Modern jazz, accessible and often pretty but with some edgy soloing on many tracks. Ellman, a guitarist, favors a calm, steely sound, for a deceptively laid-back atmosphere. The compositions don't have obvious melodies, though, and the guitar or sax solos often get twisty and complex. Greg Osby guests on tracks 3,7,8.

Points of comparison: A mellower Tim Berne, or a quieter Fieldwork (a trio that's recorded for this same record label).

1*- Mildly spiky composition, midtempo
2*- Midtempo, bit of a stormy feel, nice solos
3- Quiet, mellow
4- Mid/fast, skipping beat like Steve Coleman
5- Slow feel, wandering
6- Slow, mellow
7- Quietly funky shuffle; calm
8*- Fast and twisty
9*- Quietly free and open