Modasaurus: 4K

Modasaurus? It sounds like some pre-historic reptilian herbivore that spent a good deal of its day staying out of the clutches of the Tyrannosaurus Rex of its time, employing, we can guess, modes of avoidance, guile and deception to keep from being eaten. But our guess would be wrong. Our Modasaurus is an Ottawa-based jazz-fusion quartet, led by pianist James McGowan.

The group's recording 4K covers sonic ground similar that of the early Pat Metheny Quartet, with its piano/guitar/bass/drums line-up, infectious grooves and tight ensemble interplay. The band mixes up a wide range of styles: Celtic jazz fusion, middle Eastern modes, rhumbas and sambas and classical forms, while maintaining an energetic and cohesive mood from start to finish.

"The Four Kids (4K)" opens the set with joyful momentum and crisp four-way interplay, while "Hey Bud" is a muscular and melodic take on a Middle Eastern mode married to an electrifying straight-ahead jazz vision. The playful "Winding Way" waltzes with a bright elan, while "Crazy Ceilidh" evokes a journey to the land of the Celts, the sound modernized into the twenty-first century anthem, with harmonica player Norman Glaude stirring some reedy textures into the sound.

"Khaleegy" is a Middle Eastern mode which invites a hard driving rock sound into the mix—Alex Moxon's guitar kicking things into higher gear—and the closer, "Seen My Jawa?," moves into a modernistic Rhumba groove, aided by Wayne Eagles' electric guitar contributions, wrapping up an engaging groove fest.