A Pouting Grimace

– General Description:
Matt Mitchell is a pianist/composer with a helter-skelter attitude towards balance. Almost all tracks place the listener continually on the edge as to what, if any, path there is to follow in the rush of sound from this ensemble. Some people like this feeling. One web reviewer has described it as: "an eclectic collection that defies categorization."
– Musicians:
Matt Mitchell - piano, Prophet 6, electronics
Kim Cass - upright bass
Kate Gentile - drums, gongs, percussion
Ches Smith - vibraphone, glockenspiel, bongos, timpani, gongs, Haitian tanbou (barrel drum), percussion
Dan Weiss - tabla
Patricia Brennan - vibraphone, marimba
Katie Andrews - harp
Anna Webber - flute, alto flute, bass flute
Jon Irabagon - sopranino sax, soprano sax
Ben Kono - oboe, English horn
Sara Schoenbeck - bassoon
Scott Robinson - bass sax, contrabass clarinet
Tyshawn Sorey - conductor
– FCC Compliant: YES
– Recommended Tracks: 1, 4, 10
– Track Reviews:
1. ***(1:10) bulb terminus - lots of cymbals and reverb, spooky
2. (8:12) plate shapes - abrupt start, like a very drunken brass band and piano; gets lively; a bit long for this idea
3. (5:32) mini alternate - up-tempo drums and a farting sax over piano
4. (6:49) brim - piano ascending interrupted by other instruments
5. (1:38) deal sweeteners - tuning into a cosmic radio
6. (0:15) squalid ink - electronics store
7.***(4:28) gluts - piano exploration, fun for the technique; switches to woodwinds exploration; kind of relaxing
8. (4:16) heft - abrupt start, stomping Gojiro, trickling toy piano feel, distant angry practice room sounds
9. (9:10) sick fields - unyielding
10. ***(5:07) ooze interim - quiet, peaceful electronics; space-like