Russ Johnson: Meeting Point

Trumpeter Russ Johnson has been all over the progressive jazz map. He's been an A-list performer for several years. A longtime resident of New York, he recently relocated to Chicago and has become a major contributor to its fertile improvisational scene. On this release, he utilizes the talents of the region's prominent artists who push the envelope when it comes to risk-taking and thinking outside the box. After listening to this album several times—and as anticipated—Johnson and his cohorts hit the mark and honor all preconceived notions.

The frontline wields a magical and highly interactive sequence of musical events that seamlessly bridge the gap between hardcore free style improv and well-defined song forms. Check out the loping pulse drummer Tim Daisy lays down on "Lithosphere," enamored by punchy horns choruses and a homogenous blend of old school jazz, coupled with gruff, ballsy soloing and wily expansion tactics. Nonetheless, the musicians keep their creative juices flowing on a per track basis, abetted by the rhythm section's sprightly cadences and a surfeit of the hornists' fervent dialogues, sprinkled with more than a few emotive upheavals.

One of three pieces titled "Conversation," the fifth track is built with extended notes and a convergence between Johnson and bass clarinetist Jason Stein amid counterbalancing statements. Elsewhere, quintet rides the crest of a wave during cool bop vamps, formed with meaty intonations; however, "Chaos Theory" is a tour-de-force as the trumpeter and clarinetist execute spinning unison lines and breakouts atop an off-center groove via bursting notes and a downward spiral. Here, they engineer a dazzling motif only to deconstruct it, leading to the rambunctious bridge section. And they close the program with a slow dirge on "Half Full," as Stein's buoyant phrasings and Johnson's muted notes impart a touch of pathos, while transforming matters into a slow rock vamp towards the coda. Hence, Johnson and associates knock it out of the park on this fine outing.