Maybe the greatest work we've heard so far from Chicago bassist
Jason Roebke – a key player on so many sessions for other jazzmen in recent years, but a hell of a visionary leader on his own!
Roebke composed all new material for the record – and the set's performed by an octet that's overloaded with heavyweights – including Josh Berman on cornet,
Jason Stein on bass clarinet, Keefe Jackson on tenor, Jeb Bishop on trombone,
Jason Adasiewicz on vibes, and Mike Reed on drums – all players very familiar with
Roebke's sound and style, and a great choice to carry out his mission in the music. There's definitely a compositional structure to the record, but many sounds are quite free, too – individual voices soaring out strongly in this flurry of notes and tones. Titles include "High Red Center", "Slow", "Dirt Cheap", "No Passengers", "Ten Nights", "Shadow", and "Ballin".
(Barcode has a cuotut hole.)