Bassist Michael Feinberg brings together a double woodwind front line in Noah Preminger/ts-fl and Dave Liebman/ss-fl with a strong backbone of Leo Genovese/p-key and Nasheet Waits/dr for a collection of post bopping (mostly) originals.
Feinberg’s touch is strong and lyrical, demonstrated on his solo “Improvisation (For Leslie)” as well as locking in deeply with Waits on the soulful “The Healing Power of GRITS” and his brooding spotlight on the melancholic “The Water Spirit Brought Us, The Water Spirit Will Take Us Home”. Preminger is mellow and warm around Genovese’s keyboards on “Cycle Song” with Liebman elliptical on the soprano for “Gather Power”. The two horn men work wonders on the intricate “Year of the Ox” and swing with energy over Waits’ crisp sticks on the frisky title tune”. A take of Herbie Hancock’s “Eye of the Hurricane” is shufflingly brisk, with some brooding flute floating on “Saqqara” over Feinberg’s thoughtful foundation. Modern colors with confident brush strokes.