Journal

Free jazz with great energetic solos, from the Ken Vandermark radius of Chicago jazz. Catchy composing and spazzy sax solos from Ken Vandermark, but lots of brainy, artsy touches too, making for an interesting mix on many tracks. (6 is a good example.) Led by sax (Vandermark) and clarinet, with drums and an electrified bass that sometimes dishes heavy guitar-like sounds (1,8).

1- Fast full blast, energetic. The middle rocks out.
2- Loose midtempo freedom. Casual jazzy feel, not too busy. Gets a fast blast, then a long midtempo come-down
3- Fast and jumbly, into a steady easygoing stroll. Later, a total spazz out, spritely free improv, and fast post-bop.
4- Cerebral funk? Toe-tapping bassline, but then some free sax. When they combine, it's soulful and jumbly, nice. Midtempo.
5- Languid, peaceful bass riff. Last 3 mins burst into slow intensity
6- Swingy clarinet shuffle. Mid/fast and spare, bouncy.
7- A calm, artsy crawl. Meditative but not slow. +4:00 Funny popping sounds, grows into some cooking horn soloing. Big serious vibe even in the segments of fast abandon
8- Sinister guitar-riff intro, into coolly tapping jazz lines. Kinda rocks out later -- great loud jazz.