Three Flights Up

Allowing Fowler and Branca to take you Three Flights Up into their realm of exotic earthiness is akin to opening a secret vault filled with privileged information on ancient tribal rituals, dusty maps of Route 66 and explanations for the red twilight sky. While not billed as a sojourn to the Southwest, this disc's blend of hypnotic percussion, classical instruments like oboe and cello and seductive melodic simplicity evokes all of its air clearing charm. At the center of earth and horizon lay the collaborative perks of Fowler's electric bass and keyboards and Branca's breathtaking acoustic tenderness. They play guide master for other hikers of the terrain like Bob Quaile (soprano sax) and Jonathan Pruitt (Piano), who add numerous measures of jazz and pop flavor to the mix. Like a day in the desert, Fowler and Branca's goal seems to be capturing the more laid back snapshots of the vista. But every once in a while, a rattlesnake pops up to keep your toes tapping.