The Swallow Quintet: Into the Woodwork

Few people can mark time as beautifully as veteran bass guitarist Steve Swallow. Here, over the course of a dozen succinct originals that never stray beyond five and half minutes, Swallow sets out his compositional stall with a superb new group that includes his partner in time, composer Carla Bley on Hammond organ, guitarist Steve Cardenas, saxophonist Chris Cheek and drummer Jorge Rossy. One might expect a group with electric guitars, Hammond organ and drums to pump up the volume. But the ever subtle Swallow takes his crew in the opposite direction, quietly exploring the lyrical, romantic side of post-bop in a way that bears comparison with the Electric Be-Bop Band, led by his former friend and colleague Paul Motian. wattxtrawatt.com