Chasing Tales

Guitar player Mark Kleinhaut returns to the studios of Maine's Invisible Music label with his regular trio of Jim Lyden on bass and Mark Macksoud on drums. The group is robustly augmented by all-around trumpet player Tiger Okoshi as they offer a potpourri of tunes, all but one composed by Kleinhaut. The program sweeps the spectrum from a relaxed "Cape Hatteras" to a fiery hard bop "Talk to You Later," the latter featuring heated exchanges between Okoshi and drummer Macksoud. One of the recognizable attributes of Kleinhaut's guitar is the way he weaves his harmonic creations into the music at hand, irrespective of style or tempo. On the faster-paced "Bluejay," dedicated to saxophonist and teacher Jerry Bergonzi, Kleinhaut comps underneath Okoshi's muted horn then engages in Joe Pass-like dazzling finger work before moving to some exchanges with bassist Lyden. The performing suppleness comes quite easily to Kleinhaut. Okoshi's contribution to the play list is "Erika's Living Room." This tune is dedicated to Erika Aberg, the heart and soul of Invisible Music. Okoshi's pensive trumpet is sustained by a variety of plucking and other percussive enticements provided by Kleinhaut. The diversity of the music continues with a challenging bit called "Mousetrap" that kicks off with a lengthy, jagged bass solo by Lyden then segues into a blowing session with Okoshi and Kleinhaut engaged in an animated musical conversation pushed along by thunderous Macksoud drum breaks. This performance captures the essence of modern free jazz with its offbeat time signatures and irregular and flowing rhythm competing for dominance. This is the album's premiere track to be sure. Another excellent release from a fine guitar player with able assistance from Okoshi, this CD is recommended.