ProStudioMasters.com

"An intimate yet intense journey into abstract surrealism ... a cohesive synergy of harmonious swing. Quiet and unassuming quickly morphs into shifting meter and a freedom of expression that walks that fine line between hard bop and the more experimental. Imaginative yet wildly accessible ... one of the more engaging improvisational releases of the year ... rather stunning, a release to remember." - CriticalJazz.com Saxophonist Peter Epstein debuts his quartet on this 2014 release, marking the first time these veterans have all recorded together, although each musician has a long history with Epstein. It’s not surprising then, that this album feels so cohesive and lived-in: there’s a nuanced clarity of communication, a focus and immediacy that only comes with what Epstein describes as “such a relaxed but total commitment to the music, to each other and to the moment at hand ... everyone is more than capable of taking advantage of whatever opportunities arise within the music, with grace and artistry." Epstein’s compositions on this album range from primarily quiet, introspective pieces to more intense, uptempo numbers and the midtempo Email from Nigeria, a 10/8 tune. He has a knack for writing interesting melodies and pieces with contrasting sections or ambiguous moods, but sees the written material as almost secondary. "... the music that we’ve all played together has consistently been music that is intimate and personal, more about the individual people one is playing with than simply having a given instrument competently ‘covered.' In my mind, in my ear, I simply hear these guys playing when music ‘plays’ in my head.” - Peter Epstein