Love and Ghosts

Listed here under the members’ names, this trio has been operating as Farmer’s by Nature for the last several years. Now on their third album together— but with hundreds to their credit between them—drummer Cleaver, bassist Parker, and pianist Taborn carry on their freewheeling chemistry on this double-length live effort. Each song is typically a multifaceted journey: the music moves from earthy to abstract, wide open to densely woven, high energy to near silence, with countless variations in between. The contemplative can be experienced most noticeably on “Without a Name” and “The Green City,” yet thanks to Cleaver the tempo rarely relents on “Comte.” “Castle 2” is more angular due to Taborn's prodding work, while Parker (an elder statesman who's first among equals here) brings a magnificent sense of dignity and gravitas to “Aquilo.” This is open ensemble playing at its very best; one will be hard pressed to find something new this year in the downtown genre that's better.