Rufus Reid, Out Front (Motéma). Passionate performances of compositions by its members highlight this album by the stalwart bassist's new trio. Reid's “Caress the Thought" evolves through changing atmospheres and rhythms into a crescendo and a peaceful resolution. Drummer Duduka Da Fonseca's “Doña Maria" alternates between the samba tradition of his native Brazil and the mainstream jazz of his adopted country. Pianist Steve Allee drew on twelve-tone music in “The Rise of the Row," but the mood of the piece is closer to Bill Evans than to Schoenberg. Throughout, Reid's bass is remarkable for its depth, richness and power.
