Big Picture

Piano/bass/drums, accessible but in unconventional terms, as you'd expect from the members: Myra Melford (piano), Mark Dresser (bass), Matt Wilson (drums). Call it "free jazz," I suppose -- music with ties to the jazz tradition but a freedom to go beyond standard forms. Should appeal to "inside" jazz fans, especially 1,2,5. Many tracks start slow, but don't be fooled -- all but #6 get cooking as the players dig in.

1- (7:35) Upbeat; gets into mid/fast, hard-stepping tempo as all three members trade off quick little solos. Yes!
2- (5:13) Loose mid/fast, wandering, chipper. Lingering intro.
3- (5:41) Bursty activity: Halting splashes of aggressive playing, almost like a game. Even some gospel motifs.
4- (13:22) Lightly jittery, darting. Gets into some hyper-bebop moments, great fun. Second half is slower, lingering, with lots of bowed bass.
5- (6:54) Jazzy melody, a touch of blues. Could pass for club jazz although it catches fire and thrashes a bit later on.
6- (6:00) ECM-like: Atmospheric bowed bass, expansive piano chords. Pretty.
7- (5:23) Classical riff, into a stiff and catchy beat as the piano continues to wander.