Burn The Incline
Vandermark 5 leader Ken Vandermark turns up in a number of groups, but the V5 is where the busy reedist showcases his ability to lead, write, and arrange.Burn the Incline, the fourth V5 outing, features a smart mix of noirish balladry, intense freetime improvisation, and snappy bop charts, but the quintet's smart playing always manages to avoid giving listeners whiplash. Vandermark's compositions and arrangements are memorable, and he continues to grow as a player with an ever-broadening set of chops, ranging from a high-pitched squeal to a throaty honk. The band continues to grow as well, with bassist Kent Kessler stepping up to open the album, anchoring overall proceedings, and making fruitful coloristic forays on his own. For fans ofCharles Mingus, Fred Anderson, andAlbert Ayler, this group is an ideal find--especially as they seem to improve chronically.--Tad Hendrickson