Jorg Schippa's Kiosk: Jorg Schippa's Kiosk

There are numerous jazz inferences on this sprightly and diverse trio date led by German guitarist Jorg Schippa, but most tracks are blended with dissimilar genres. Indeed, variety is a common denominator throughout as the band funnels punk jazz, rock, blues and other classifications into the grand schema. The program receives some added luster via the crystalline audio processes as the leader meticulously builds his solos with faint use of distortion, other than a few movements where he amps it up.

The rhythm section is fluid and effortlessly blazes through knotty unison phrasings with Schippa, but delves into geometrical formations abetted by drummer Christian Marien's thumping rock pulse on the hard-hitting, "DamDamDamDam." However, "Springball" largely resides within the modern jazz space, accelerated by the guitarist's speedy single note soloing. Moreover, "Liebling, mein Herz lässt dich gruessen" is an old German film tune, spiced with a hybrid Euro-Americana country flavor, leading to open-ended improv and Schippa's delicate handling of the primary theme.

Schippa dishes out a low-key and adventurous acoustic guitar ballad on "Lost Beat Blues" then goes for the gusto on the jazz rock piece "Circle Interrupt," that features a funky riff supported by Horst Nonnenmacher's pungent bass lines and the drummer's sweeping patterns. Here, the guitarist generates some fire and brimstone due to his energized and fluent passages. No doubt, it's a solid endeavor where each track imparts a distinct storyline and plan of action, massaged by the trio's tightly coordinated inner-workings and free-flowing ideas.