This is original music musically directed by Chris Potter inspired by the art of San Francisco’s de Young Museum About Place exhibition that ran until September. It’s something of a first for the collective whose membership has shifted down the years.
Band members – who include Potter and drummer Kendrick Scott – viewed this collection of Bay Area artist work. Pianist Edward Simon‘s compositions are based on Rupy C. Tut’s triptych New Normal. Vibist Warren Wolf‘s ‘The Files’ is inspired by Sadie Barnette’s FBI Drawings: Legal Ritual. It’s OK. Wolf is better heard on Rachael and Vilray’s West of Broadway. Trumpeter Mike Rodriguez‘ ‘Walking In Rainbow Rain,’ was inspired by Clare Rojas’ painting that shares the name. Far more than OK however his soloing later on the love letter ‘Te Quiero Inti’ forms some of the most tender improvising. Go there first.
Potter’s opening track is the bafflingly entitled ‘Unknow Know With What Is’. It is based on a Chris Johanson painting. Overall I liked Simon’s far less bustling ‘Guardian of the Oceans’ best of everything here and lingered less over the more up tempo ensemble passages elsewhere although they have their moments. Saxophonist David Sánchez and bassist Matt Brewer complete the band. Overall it’s OK, the amalgam of styles is a kind of group think rhythmically prodigious consensus. It turns out progressive and alert and delivers a sound that shares something in common with the restless impetus that powered albums like Dave Holland’s late-1990s album, Points of View.
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