Bruce Lofgren: Earthly and Cosmic Tales

Long-time fans of SoCal guitarist and arranger Bruce Lofgren are going to find this recording something of a departure. More akin to a chamber group than Lofgren's past forays into standards and big band jazz, the characterization of the recording as "instrumental adventures" is really quite apt. Clarinet, cello, bass, vibes and percussion are what Lofgren brings to the table, And a tuneful, melodious and largely joyful recording it is, with a mix of originals and covers that are equal parts sea breeze, summer's day and a bird's eye view of the landscape That the music is neither serious nor a heavy lift makes it no less pretty: thoughtful enough to be interesting, but also gentle enough to be uplifting. With all the noise and unpleasantness of contemporary life, there is a place for music like this. It is good for the soul and an emollient. The Bruce Lofgren Group has more in common with the Turtle Island Quartet than with the Modern Jazz Quartet. There is a place for all of them in jazz.

Some specifics? On "Fields of Praise,"a fretless bass solo is framed by a mix of cello, Bb clarinet and vibraphones. "Creepin,'" a Stevie Wonder cover, brings Randy Landas on electric bass. "String Theory" is a nice combination of clarinet and electric bass, followed by an even more descriptive "Tripsey." The titles are not necessarily evident descriptions of the tracks, so it may be necessary to quiz a random physicist about their programmatic content. "Orange Crate Art" is just that, music that could that could serve as a theme for a nostalgia-based television series. "Red Shift" will mean something specific to astronomers and audiologists, although here "Return to Turtle Island" might serve just as well.

Do not let the titles deter you. The music is creative, far from unearthly and eminently listenable.