Fire of Space

Fire of Space: Handbasket

by Elliott Simon
November 8, 2006

Artfully blending world musics within a jazz context, Jordan McLean has lent his articulate trumpet to ethnic aggregations such as the Sway Machinery and Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra. For his first release as a leader, he guides this unique nonet, Fire of Space, through original compositions that alternate funky dance music with open space invocations filling his new Handbasket with plenty of colors. Reeds abound and the nine instruments allow for singular voicings that, along with McLean's horn, include Michael Herbst's ...