Explosion

What makes this debut recording so interesting is the way in which composer and tenor saxophonist Patrick Zimmerli incorporates an entirely unique compositional aesthetic. Joined only by electric guitarist Ben Monder, electric bassist Stomu Takeshi, and percussionist Satoshi Takeishi, Zimmerli melds advanced contemporary classical technique with offbeat jazz rhythms, leading to a fascinating blend. For all its complexity, there is something deliciously accessible about the music, although melodies are rare, harmonies are layered, and solos are angular. Monder proves himself a wonderfully innovative soloist, void of cliché. The two standards — Victor Feldman's "Seven Steps to Heaven" and Richard Rodgers' "Where or When" — are marvelous re-creations, pointing to entirely new ways of interpreting traditional patterns.