We certainly hope this isn't the final floor for Throttle Elevator Music, as we've always enjoyed the many sounds the group has given us over the years – styles served up here on a record that's almost a testament to the collaborative growth of the ensemble over the past decade or so, as the album brings together recordings made over various years, with new work added in recently to complete the set! As usual, Gregory Howe is at the core – handling most of the arrangements and overseeing the recording, with equal help from longtime musical partner Matt Montgomery on bass – opening up into a lineup that also includes Kamasi Washington on tenor, Erik Jekabson on trumpet, Kasey Knudsen on alto and tenor, and Mike Blankenship on a bit of Farfisa organ! You can definitely feel Washington's presence when he's on a session, but the overall sound of the record is equally nice – a real evolution of the group's sound from the start, maybe served up in part by the more recent touches added to the mix by Howe. Titles include "Supraliminal Space", "Caste Off", "Daggerboard", "Ice Windows", "Rooftop Sunrise", "Return To Form", "Heart Of Hearing", and "Recirculate". ~ Dusty Groove
A really great setting for the sublime reed talents of Dave Rempis – a special quartet that features two drummers, Tim Daisy and Frank Rosaly, plus bass from Ingebrigt Haker Flaten! Despite the name of the group, the sound here isn't an all-out percussion bombast – and instead, the players really let the fantastic soundshapes of Rempis guide their way – as Dave plays both alto and tenor saxes, and opens the door to much larger sonic exploration on the album's three long tracks. The group take on a great moment from the Art Ensemble Of Chicago – borrowing a bit of "Theme De Yoyo", which they fold into their own "Evacuation" – next to other tracks titled "There's A Jam On The Line" and "Late Arrival". ~ Dusty Groove
A really rare soundtrack from Quincy Jones – right up there with his jazziest gems of the 60s, but never issued on record at the time! The music is for an obscure film with Robert Wagner in the lead, and the sounds are a hip blend of the earlier jazz modes of Quincy, with some of the fuller charts that really showed an ever-evolving sense of tone and color! Jones manages to be both sophisticated and organic at the same time – mixing light strings with more down to earth jazz instrumentation – handled by an array of players that includes Dave Grusin and Don Randi on keyboards, Mike Barone on trombone, Jack Nimitz and Bud Shank on reeds, and Herb Ellis on guitar. There's a few nice moments of wordless vocals, and Gil Bernal sings the "Eyes Of Love" leadoff song – next to other cuts that include "Relay Chase", "Mad Pad/A Lack Of Lass", "Poker/Take Tea & Me", "Dental Fleece", "Don't Make Waves", "Fixation", "I Want You", "Trying Tie", and "Sudden Death". ~ Dusty Groove
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