James Carney Group
Ways & Means
www.songlines.com
By George W. Harris

Keyboardist/composer James Carney leads a free thinking septet on this release that includes moments of ethereal beauty with stratospheric launches of sonic explorations. The ensemble, which includes Peter Epstein/ss-ss, Ralph Alessi/tp, Tony Malaby/ts, Josh Roseman/tb, Chris Lightcap/b and Mark Ferber, create gently undulating pieces like “Gargoyles” and “Onendaga” which feature ebbs and flows of sound, like a gentle=2 0tide. Carney’s piano and electric keyboards are featured well in these frames. More somber and moody, “Squatters” has a laconic coloring with the horns. On the other end of the scale, the shorter pieces such as “Pow Wow” and “The Business End” are free for all jousts with few holds barred, with barely a musician standing at the end. The pretty shadings of “Failout” make up for any hairs standing on the end of your neck after the more edgy tunes. Cerebral music for concentrating minds.