Wallace Roney: Jazz

The first two tracks, "Vater Time and "Children of the Light, are embedded with Roney's unremitting chromaticism, creating a rumble of unresolved tension. The spirit of Miles Davis, Roney's main mentor, is ever- present, especially on the ferocious, backbeat driven "Revolution: Resolution and the pensive waltz "Her Story. A conscious homage to electric-era Miles can be heard on Sly Stone's "Stand. Roney's dissonant arrangement of the funk classic features both Allen and Davis alum Robert Irving III on keyboards, complemented by Val Jeanty's turntable scratching and sampling.

Bassist Rashaan Carter and drummer Eric Allen both adhere to the groove-oriented nature of the disc while maintaining a progressive edginess, challenging any notion of overt simplicity. A fascinating example of drum and bass interplay is found on "Fela's Shrine, where Allen's drum barrage perpetuates Carter's ethereal, low- end thumping.

Jazz is full of provocation. Roney and company aren't necessarily presenting an ideal of where jazz is today, but rather a lush representation of the genre's possibilities. This music is challenging, vivacious and, above all, soulful.