Last we heard from trombonist Samuel Blaser was on his formidable Don Drummond reggae tribute Routes last year. Here the Swiss jazzer is on more familiar territory resuming an old band acquaintance that walks the line between the outer, more progressive, edges of hard bop and touches if only in passing the nearby precincts of freer jazz (for instance on the track 'Wings') with his One From None band co-led by bassist Michael Bates. With Michael Blake on tenor saxophone, Russ Lossing on keys - loose and funky on 'Blue Point' but switching to the piano on 'The Fallen One' much more rhapsodic - and Jeff Davis on drums Book Nine was recorded in a New Jersey studio. Inspired by John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy and Jimmy Garrison the title track is dedicated to Blaser and Bates' former agent and manager Izumi Uchida and to Ken Pickering, founder of the Vancouver Jazz Festival. The writing is excellent and spirit that delivers it all a joyous noise - what a must.
Out on 8 February
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