Periodic Trespasses / The Saul Cycle

This very intriguing set has violinist Sam Bardfeld narrating a story about a man searching for his purpose in life, trying to decide whether to become a dentist or an esoteric musician. While Bardfeld's brief narrations (labeled "Chapter I," "Chapter II," etc.) are only of passing interest, the music is superior. Sometimes a bit reminiscent of the Bobby Hutcherson Blue Note sessions of the 1960s where Hutcherson's vibes took the place of a piano, these quintet performances feature plenty of interplay between violinist Bardfeld, trumpeter Ron Horton, and vibraphonist Tom Beckham; dynamic solos; and completely unpredictable writing that falls into the modern mainstream of jazz.