While he appears on many albums under his own name, don't let
Ken Vandermark in jazz project
Steam go unheard. This is three-fifths of
the Vandermark 5 joining pianist Jim Baker.
Steam features classic "head" arrangements of theme followed by improvisations followed by theme but often breaks out of even this mold. Baker adds continual variety by submerging into the rhythm section and then breaking the surface again as the lead player.
Vandermark brings from his
Vandermark 5 his trademark hard-edged horn gusto while working in the jazz group ideal of each member stepping forward supported by the rest. ~ Tom Schulte