Fire of Space: Handbasket

Artfully blending world musics within a jazz context, Jordan McLean has lent his articulate trumpet to ethnic aggregations such as the Sway Machinery and Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra. For his first release as a leader, he guides this unique nonet, Fire of Space, through original compositions that alternate funky dance music with open space invocations filling his new Handbasket with plenty of colors. Reeds abound and the nine instruments allow for singular voicings that, along with McLean's horn, include Michael Herbst's oboe, English horn, tenor sax and flute; Stuart Bogie's soprano and contra-alto clarinets; Aaron Johnson's trombone; Martin Penna's baritone; and Leah Paul's alto flute.

The traditional Turkish folk tune "Rampi Rampi is served up as a blistering entrée into the session as percussionist Geoff Mann and bassist Thomas Abbs pump out a highly danceable rhythm that pulsates through the fiery Middle Eastern changes. A meditatively pleading "Quiet (as the Birds of Fewa), decorated by Shoko Nagai's chordal organ, reflects the cry of near extinct Tibetan avians before the title cut, resplendent in baritone sax riffs, driving rhythms and McLean's punching solo work, funks up the house.

A long journey into the "Valleys of Jade traverses some intriguing musical territory as double oboe and clarinet lead the way through a decidedly Mid Eastern motif. Another burner follows, complete with real "Children's Voices, exploring this band's stellar command of infectious rhythms and exposing the heretofore unknown deep funkiness in the contra-alto clarinet. The freedom of "Asifina Dream, portrayed by arco bass and organ, gives way to a deliciously sleazy tenor trip that picks up stray instruments to form a vagabond choir before solemn organistic chords signal a final group "Prayer to the Elders.

All of these multiple timbres work together surprisingly well, making for an exceptionally interesting soundscape—testimony to McLean's strong compositions and leadership skills.