Radiolarians II

iTunes Review

This is the second installment in the Radiolarians Series, a three record project begun in 2008. The concept is this: the trio sketch out some rough ideas, then they road test and refine them on brief tours before heading to the studio to record the final results — basically the opposite of the standard music biz approach (they even left Blue Note and started their own label in order to do this). The formula is a perfect fit for this wildly eclectic and prolific keyboards/drums/bass outfit because it captures the spirit of their live performances and satisfies their adventurous and experimental aesthetic. As usual, they’re all over the map and as unpredictable as ever. They toss around all kinds of textures and tones on the atmospheric, aptly titled “Junkyard,” ride a breezy groove on “Padrecito,” reach a funked-out frenzy on “Chasen Vs Suribachi,” and lay down their own skewed brand of R&B on “Amish Pinxtos.” Then they end it all with a smoky, swinging rewrite of Reverend Gary Davis’ “Baby, Let Me Follow You Down.” Incredible. This is not a live recording in a strict sense, but it is the sound of music being created on the fly.