Pianist Marc Copland has been teaming with guitarist John Abercrombie lately, finally breaking away to make some of his own music. Here, he brings together Ralph Alessi/tp, Drew Gress/b and Joey Baron/dr for an elastic post-bop collection. The co-op of a team shows it’s playfulness as Copland’s piano prances on “Waterfalls” and mixes with Baron’s brushes and Alessi’s horn on “Best Yet.” Alessi’s horn is muted and open for a free-ish and interactive three part “Air We’ve Never Breathed” which includes poetry read by Bill Zavatsky,” with the sounds rumbling between sensitivity and rapaciousness. There’s a delicate balance between everyone walking a tightrope on the breezy “Mystery Song” while Baron shows his muscles on the closing “Hurricane.” Communication with class.
Inner Voice Jazz Records