Simulated Progress

An assault. Exciting, heavy-handed jazz trio (sax, piano, drums) that showcases Vijay Iyer's percussive piano attack. Tempos can be slow but the energy is high -- an air of menace on most tracks. There's a "futuristic" feel here, like sci-fi club jazz (albeit kinda violent). The only problem is the monochrome effect of one action-packed track after another; calm interludes like #2 or the end of #6 really stand out.

Awesome stuff, though. With former Bay Area dude Elliott Kavee on drums, and

For more of the same, see Fieldwork's other album "Your Life Flashes," or the Iyer/Ladd CD, "In What Language." Iyer's solo CDs showcase his softer side but still feature some flashy piano.

1- Slow thundering bassline for darting, stabbing solos. Sudden ending, watch out.
2- Calm jazz walk, but still powerful and a bit dark
3- Slowish and tumbling. (Awkwardly abrupt ending.)
4- Fast and dire
5- Slow feel, very tense.
6- Busy fast chaos. Calms down later.
7- Big and stomping, after "Exorcist" quiet intro
8- Hammering rat-a-tat piano. Fast and crashing.
9- Fast and particularly aggressive. Jumbly group soloing.
10- Fast with a spacey, echoey feel. Sax with reverb.
11- Midtempo and booming.