Peter Evans Quintet: Genesis

The unbounded creative experimenter, Peter Evans, returns to his quintet formation for their third outing on Genesis. Pianist Carlos Homs, departed the group following their debut, Ghosts (2011), being replaced by Ron Stabinsky (Mostly Other People Do the Killing) on Destination: Void (2014), both on the More is More label. Evans was also a member of MOPDtK, overlapping with Stabinsky only on Blue (Hot Cup Records, 2015). Bassist Tom Blancarte, joins Sam Pluta on live electronics and the very busy Jim Black on drums and live electronics to round out the group.

Genesis is the most ambitious quintet project launched by the avant-garde trumpeter/composer, especially in terms of the exceedingly collaborative group model. Recorded live during a 2015 European tour, the album features almost one-hundred minutes of music; the quintet—not surprisingly—pushing boundaries even while producing their most accessible recording to date.

The bulk of the collection goes to two multi-part suites. "Genesis / Schismogenesis" consists of four sections (labeled as 'stages') and another five-part suite interestingly named "3 for Alice (Coltrane)." Evans' solo opening on "Fanfares Introduction" is closer to his abstract work on his very recent solo trumpet album Lifeblood (More is More, 2016). The main piece—"Fanfare"—finds a melodic center if not necessarily a setting down point. Each section of "Genesis / Schismogenesis (Stage 1-Stage 4)" vacillates between serenity and visceral attacks.

The fifteen-plus minute "Patient Zero (15 scenes)" is the most abstract of the pieces on Genesis. Stabinsky occasionally dropping in phrases that sound a bit like the theme from The Twilight Zone, while Evans splutters and growls in an agitated manner. As the tension builds to a crescendo, the piece quiets down to a reverential state and then explodes again. To say that "3 for Alice (Coltrane):Elementary" swings, is misleading. The sheer force of Evans' power and Stabinsky's torrent of notes, at breakneck speed, would knock traditionalists off their feet.

Genesis is more a group effort than a showcase for solos, though there are some fine ones, especially from Evans and Stabinsky. The quintet often sounds like a larger ensemble likely due to the live electronic enhancements of Black and Pluta. In most cases, however, Evans takes care to nuance the use of programmed elements and blends them with the acoustics in an organic manner. It's Evans' nature to occasionally allow the group to happily head into the weeds, but they claw their way back and forth from center, ready to get muddy again. In an increasingly formulaic music world, Evans remains true to his experimental approach; he is not making music burdened by the goal of mass appeal but guided by a unique creative compass.