Steve Coleman and the Council of Balance: Synovial Joints

The recipient of a 2014 MacArthur Genius grant, alto saxophonist Steve Coleman is one of the most innovative contemporary improvisers and composers. Over a career that has spanned three decades Coleman has restlessly explored unique and ingenious ways of spontaneous expression and artistic conceptualization.

On Synovial Joints Coleman leads his large ensemble The Counsel of Balance on a provocative and intricately constructed series of interconnected pieces. The harmonically complex and textured music flows seamlessly from one track to the next in ever evolving and gripping patterns that blends multiple traditions into a singular cohesive whole with a strong spiritual bent.

Asian motifs permeate the ethereal "Celtic Cells" that opens with Coleman's melancholic sax and vocalist Jen Shyu's haunting and solemn chant. Complementing the string quartet's eastern flavored refrains are the rhythm section's percussive embellishments. Out of this intriguing organic tension emerges Coleman's contemplative, longing alto followed by trombonist Tim Albright's lyrical and intelligent solo.

Equally dramatic and sublime are the fluid hypnotic refrains of "Nomadic" that contrast the expansive Western classical sounds with the more intimate funky blue- hued tones. Tenorist Maria Grand takes center stage with an expressive and stimulating soliloquy sandwiched between two percussionists,' Ramon Garcia Perez and Nei Sacramento's thunderous congas.

The four-part title suite forms the core of the CD. Its atmosphere fluctuates and transforms from dark, modal and expectant to symphonic and from brightly cinematic to mystical and delightfully arcane. The first movement "Part I: Hand and Wrist" , for instance features trumpeter Jonathan Finlayson's clean, mellow phrases coalescing into a crisp sonic poem and Coleman's contemplative alto soaring in captivating circles as the band's bottom heavy vamps march on. Drummer Marcus Gilmore's thrilling, elegant polyrhythms usher in the conclusion.

Finlayson engages in an imaginative duet with pianist David Bryant on the intense and fiery "Acupuncture Openings." Bryant's passionate percussive extemporization unfolds over evocative orchestral sounds and soulful Latin hued thumping cadence.

To say Synovial Joints is Coleman's best work yet is unfair to his previous output as almost every one of his 29 recordings as a leader is uniformly superb. But not to label this disc his masterpiece would also be unjust as well because Coleman has managed to outshine himself once again. The album is another link in the always maturing and progressive creative chain that is his oeuvre.

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