After the rather violent opener ("Run for Cover"), one might be forgiven for thinking that this trio outing by saxophonist Michael Blake, bassist
Ben Allison, and drummer
Jeff Ballard was going to be mostly avant-garde jazz and free-form explorations. As the program progresses, it is difficult not to be impressed by the variety that includes the very spiritual and peaceful "Mt. Harissa,"
Allison slapping his bass in an old-time style on "Flip," the free bop of "All of This Is Yours," a knowledgeable reading of
Thelonious Monk's "San Francisco Holiday," and a somewhat spacy rendition of "Careless Love." This set keeps one continually guessing and certainly never loses one's attention. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow