Guitarist Dom Minasi follows up Takin' the Duke Out with another set of adventurous trio music, again featuring bassist Ken Filiano and drummer Jackson Krall. Leaving Ellington aside for the moment, Minasi offers "out" readings of other mainstream classics, namely "All Blues," "Well, You Needn't," "Green Dolphin Street," and "Autumn Leaves." But he fills the other half of the program with four originals, allowing listeners to view other facets of his musicianship. The originals are plenty "out" as well, but they're built upon thematic foundations that provide the ear a means of access. "Trane's Lament," an unaccompanied guitar track, changes the otherwise dizzying pace, much like "Solitude" did on the previous record. And Filiano's haunting arco work introduces "The Day After Next," a piece that lures the trio into a quasi-psychedelic space. Minasi's concept may not be grasped on the first listen, but it's worth the effort.
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