I’ll tell you right now, this album doesn’t feel like on lead by a drummer. Owen Howard wrote most of the tunes and arranged them all as he leads a hard bopping team of John O’Gallagher/as, Adam Kolker/ts-ss-bcl, Jrank carlberg/p and Johannes Weidenmueller/b through some toe tapping tunes. If Howard doesn’t write it, other drummers such as Joe Chambers, Paul Motian, Tony Williams and Paul Motian did. Great idea!
You get lots of front line fun with the reeds on “Plus/Minus” the funky “Like Buttah.” Tony Williams’ “Pee Wee” is like a rumble in the jungle with Carlberg going for it, and Kolker’s alto sighs over Paul Motian’s “Mumbo Jumbo.” Fragrant brushwork dances with Kolker’s bass clarinet on “Haiku” and the leader even lets Carlberg close the disc all by himself with a wonderful solo take of the same piece. Gotta love this guy!
BJU Records