Set the Alarm for Monday

Bobby Previte has always been an unusual musician. While his drumming is versatile, swinging in its own way, and adaptable to a wide variety of musical settings, his writing is always inventive and somewhat quirky. On Set the Alarm for Monday, he contributed all nine selections for a sextet of adventurous improvisers. Previte conceived the nine pieces as a suite and he sought out players who would fit the sound he had in mind. His group, which he calls the New Bump, has tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin as the most impressive soloist, and vibraphonist Bill Ware as a very significant player in the ensembles. Much of the music sounds a bit like a soundtrack, with a simple rhythmic figure sometimes serving as the basis for the piece and the playing ending inconclusively. The music does not feel quite finished, nor as memorable as one might expect, with the individual playing and the ensemble colors being more notable than the compositions. Still, Set the Alarm for Monday grows in interest with each listen.