Chicago Edge Ensemble: Paradoxes In Freedom

Listening to guitarist and bandleader Dan Phillips' music can feel like trying to keep a scorecard to track all the musical lines he weaves together. Fortunately, despite his wide-ranging influences and concepts, he structures his compositions in a way that remains accessible, always grounded in the rich jazz traditions of Chicago.

Paradoxes In Freedom marks the fourth release from his Chicago Edge Ensemble. The lineup remains mostly intact from their previous album, The Individualists (Lizard Breath, 2023), with one key change: Avreeayl Ra takes over on drums, with Steve Hunt appearing on one track, replacing Hamid Drake. The ensemble's first two releases featured saxophonist Mars Williams, who passed away in 2023. To fill his role, Phillips brought in cornetist Josh Berman, who steps in seamlessly. The rest of the band—trombonist Jeb Bishop and bassist Krzysztof Pabian—continues to provide the ensemble's solid foundation.

Phillips' sound is deeply tied to Chicago's jazz lineage, recalling bands like The Vandermark 5, Ernest Dawkins' New Horizons Ensemble, the Art Ensemble of Chicago and the ever-evolving Fast Citizens. Like those groups, he crafts dynamic compositions and arrangements that provide ample space for improvisation. Each extended track shifts fluidly between full ensemble passages, solos, and duets.

The album's title track sets the tone, opening with atmospheric interplay between guitar, bass, and drums before giving way to a bold horn fanfare. Phillips' guitar and Ra's drumming then propel the piece forward, leading into solos from Bishop and a spirited response from Berman. Throughout the album, Phillips favors a balance of weight and levity—contrasting the controlled chaos of "Pitchfork Rebellion" with its marching rhythms, diving into infectious grooves on "Invasive Species," and embracing open, spacious textures on "Ascetic Aesthetic."Despite its complexity, the music remains engaging and digestible, a testament to Phillips' ability to fuse intricate ideas with compelling execution.