Christian Finger: Zeit Zirkel

Listening to Zeit Zirkel (Time Circle), German-born and New York-based drummer Christian Finger's sixth album, you might not surmise that he was the leader of this ensemble—unless, that is, you glanced at the album jacket.

Yes, Finger is present on every track and he anchors the quintet's reliable rhythm section. And yes, he composed and arranged every one of the session's 13 uniquely personal numbers. On the other hand, he nestles mostly within the woodwork, ceding the lion's share of melodic, harmonic and improvisational tasks to trumpeter Ralph Alessi, guitarist Ben Monder or pianist Vadim Neselovskyi. The exceptions are "Time Flows for You" and "Time Flows for Us," brief sketches for solo drums, the second of which closes the album.

The music itself is hard to define, as it ranges from solid straight-ahead jazz to avant-garde, with some unforeseen detours along the way. Alessi, whose burnished horn is upfront most of the way, is a flexible and seasoned artist who seems at home in any format. Monder veers between lucid and more strident depending on the circumstances, and Neselovskyi is a splendid pianist who should be heard more often.

Alessi is showcased on the album's opening (and longest) number, the easygoing "Alta Anima," and pretty much carries the ball on every down thereafter, scoring numerous times with fresh and resourceful ad libs. Monder and Neselovskyi seal the harmonic gaps, adapting their stances as the session moves from canonical to eccentric, while Finger and bassist Adam Armstrong oversee the ever-shifting rhythmic patterns.

Regrettably, though, "Time Flows for Us," the brief coda-like drum track that ends the work, does so abruptly, awkwardly. You might say that Zeit Zirkel begins in high spirits ("Alta Anima"), with promise ("Hope and Hope"), but for mysterious reasons ("Five Secrets II") breaks the flow at the end, stumbling as it nears the finish line.