Nut Club

The name Free Range Rat must imply that this band's music is impulsive, helter-skelter, and perhaps brainless. As opposed to a free-range cow or chicken, the rat might be more of a survivalist, desperate and searching for shelter, food, or maybe even some respect. A project ostensibly led by tenor saxophonist Eric Hipp, Free Range Rat exploit the notion of scurrying about for discovery and expressionism, while finding it in many ways. Sun Ra is an avowed influence, as are the progressive saxophonists of the '60s, to a certain extent bop, European free jazz, and spontaneous composition. Drummer George Schuller lights the fuse on the rat's tail, while trumpeter John Carlson, clarinetist Doug Yates, and Hipp are the vermin in a wonderful maze of bumps, grinds, confusion, clarity, and constant chasing. The rats are loose and jumping for the free bop jam "Nut Club/Non-Believer," and triple the tempo on a scattered super-fast take of Sun Ra's "The Satellites Are Spinning." The visage of Ornette Coleman crops up on "Part 2" in a 12/8 time signature with the modal bass of Shawn McGloin setting the pace for angular multiple harmonic horn lines. A loose interpretation of Bob Marley's "So Much Trouble in the World" is framed in light swing with Carlson's trumpet at center stage. Hipp, an obvious John Coltrane/Archie Shepp/Pharoah Sanders devotee, takes some interesting solos, whether squawking while sidling up to McGloin during "Extension" or employing clip-tongued phrases on the dark free funk "Hipp-Hopp." Not all aggressive, the rat does eventually settle and rest via the long-toned and dour "Below Canal" and low-down, underground "Bottom Feeders," signifying the New York City subway rat, alone underneath the sleeping metropolitan area. There's also "Horn Trio #3," sans rhythm section, prompting sharp staccato call-and-response debate quips, an idea that could stand alone for an entire CD. This organized, highly intelligent, and compelling modern creative ensemble deserves more than a one-shot chance, even if the reviled rat should probably be disposed of. How about Free Range Kangaroo? ~ Michael G. Nastos, Rovi