New York trumpet player and composer Dave Douglas caught the eye as a member of Masada. But he has risen above this group of icon John Zorn and is now himself a key figure in the New York avant-garde jazz scene. He runs the label Greenleaf Music, which is also a medium for his own, numerous projects and occasional bands. High Risk is released under his own name but is actually a collaboration with
… Shigeto, an electronic musician and producer from the Detroit area. Add to that the virtuoso electronic and acoustic American drummer Mark Guiliana and you get a striking modern jazz record. The group mainly deals in abstract funk, with an emphasis on the first word. There is plenty of movement in the music, but as a listener you stay nailed to your seat while Guiliana shoots in all directions. In combination with the soundscapes of Shigeto, it sometimes takes on something of a runaway pinball machine. It is striking how Douglas continues to play warm and melodic and connects and lifts the erratic sounds and rhythms with his playing. A beautiful but sometimes nerve-racking virtuoso album. (MR)more
