Middle Picture, The

Sextet packing lots of abstract improv but with plenty of jazz influence: a couple covers (3,5) and some nice composing by Bynum (4,7,8). The band includes two guitars and a viola alongside sax, drums, and Bynum's cornet. (Electric bass joins in sometimes, as on #4).

Taylor Ho Bynum (cornet), Matt Bauder (sax/clarinet), Mary Halvorson (el. guitar), Evan O'Reilly (el. guitar), Jessica Pavone (viola, el.bass), Tomas Fujiwara (drums)

1- Trio (guitar,cornet,drums) that gets into some fast interplay
2- Quiet cornet solo, into a busy improv thicket, a bit dark. Viola adds a soaring element later.
3- Swampy, mysterious flow, a bit exotic. (Miles cover.)
4- Very quiet plinks and clatter, builds to a calm little mid/fast melody with some old-world charm.
5- Billy Strayhorn tune. A cute, soft pace with louder guitar jangling near the end
6- Mid/fast, off-kilter chamber intro. Primitive cornet/drums jam. Then a quiet improv segment building into busy activity.
7- Soft start with a smoky melodic improv. Second half: swinging mid/fast bebop, into a more harsh guitar phase
8- Chamber feel; formal, stern, mid/fast.
9- Trio with calm cornet and chopping jazz guitar. Starts almost pretty, dissolves into madness