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Polarities on CD

Once a shining light on the NY downtown jazz scene, alto/soprano saxophonist Epstein returns with a new, exceptionally coherent quartet whose members have been performing together in different configurations for the better part of two decades, featuring Ralph Alessi, trumpet/cornet, Sam Minaie, bass, and Mark Ferber, drums. The group's shared language and clarity of communication is nuanced and powerful, with a dynamic that ranges from subtle introspection to roaring ferocity. Epstein is head of the jazz program at UNR in Reno, and his music integrates a lot of jazz history (echoes of Ornette's original quartet for example), and occasionally world music feels, into a beautiful whole. Alessi is himself a well-known leader, his latest release is on ECM. Open, dynamic audiophile sound.