Alto saxophonist
Mike DiRubbo studied with
Jackie McLean, and has played with highly regarded musicians like
Eddie Henderson,
John Hicks, and
Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown.
Chronos, his sixth CD as a leader, finds him fronting a stripped-down sax/organ/drums trio, with hard-grooving and occasionally skronky results. This isn't an out-jazz record, but it has its moments, particularly on the title track, where
DiRubbo repeats a three-note phrase with ferocious intensity before commencing a solo that gets unexpectedly harsh. For most of the disc, though, he's a stabilizing force, keeping things cool and boppin'. Keyboardist
Brian Charette is the wild card, playing an almost psychedelic melodic figure at the end of "Excellent Taste," which he wrote. Drummer
Rudy Royston gets plenty aggressive at times, too, especially on "Eight for Elvin," named for
Elvin Jones, who once hit his kick drum so hard on a date with
John Coltrane that it broke.
Chronos occupies an interesting middle ground between soul-jazz and free jazz, and will likely provide plenty of pleasure to fans of either or both.