The influence of
Ornette Coleman is strongly felt on this trio/quartet date. It is not that guitarist
Michael Bocian sounds like
Ornette but more that, like
Coleman, he uses the mood of the melody as the basis for most of his improvisations while bassist
Ed Schuller and drummer
Rashied Ali set a stimulating pulse.
Bocian alters his airy tone on a couple of the pieces, getting a wa-wa sound on "Go Groove" and "Choo Choo Bop." On a few selections,
Bocian does play off of chord changes, he indulges in some
Tristano-ish tradeoffs with guest pianist
Fred Hersch on "Choo Choo Bop," conveys a feeling of freeness on the lone standard "Gypsy in My Soul," is downbeat and somber during "Cherry" and holds one's interest during a duet with
Ali ("The A'u"). An impressive set of challenging music.