Zimbabwe Nkenya And The New Jazz

Free-jazz from a New Mexico bassist. Four tracks showcase Nkenya on solo bass (1,2,9,10); the others are quartet pieces with sax and trumpet. Well rooted in the tradition, Nkenya's group plays some great near-straight jazz (3,7, start of 6) but shows they can get artsy and abstract when necessary (5, most of 6). Much more accessible than the DIY packaging would suggest. Sound quality middling. Good stuff overall; I wanna hear more.

1- Bowed bass. Stately feel; starts slow but really digs in later
2- Bouncy, boppy pizzacatto bass. Fun! Fades at a weird point
3- Fairly fast bop-oriented jam, cool-handed and bright
4- Bright trumpet intro. Brisk, free feel.
5- Careful artsy theme, into playful sparse/free group work
6- Yeah! Perky upbeat bop, probably a nod to Ornette Coleman. Sparse abstract middle, then some fiery jamming
7- Two-minute cautious improv, into midtempo bop swing.
8- Trio jam, free jazz with dusky '60s air, energetic and thoughtful
9- Pizzacatto bass, fleet fingered
10- Grumpy, cartoony bass, like Anthony Braxton's "ghost-trace" pieces with their march feel