Penumbra

Free jazz with tastes of grooving and even funk, and some chamber sensibilities on slower tracks. Led by Maupin on reeds, especially bass clarinet -- he's graced many a classic album, including Miles' Bitches Brew and On the Corner.

Richly jazzy and definitely accessible, but with a sense of adventure. Keeps to a relatively cool intensity, as opposed to aggressive blowouts. Really nice stuff, even a couple of pretty tracks (check out 14). Includes some short solo-horn wanderings: 4,6,10.

The story of how Jeff Gauthier (Cryptogramophone's founder) met up with Maupin is pretty cool... check it out here:
http://www.greenleafmusic.com/#/blog/2008/11/bennie_maupin.php

1- Mid/fast patter in 7/8; slinky bass clarinet solo
2- Coolly steady groove, fairly straight
3- Softly abstract and disjoint. Mid/fast, low key
5- Flute piece, soft, with cool-sounding tuned percussion
7- Gentle and pleasant, mid/fast. Quiet, airy start.
8- Mid/fast, nice groove. Quiet start.
9- Slow lines, into bright energetic jam
11- Upbeat groove
12- Calm free soloing, fairly slow/relaxed.
13- Perky mid/fast little groove
14- Slow, really nice.