With their fourth album ‘Brain Drain’, Gorilla Mask is often in your face. That said, their tactics with rhythm and harmony remain an integral part of their attack, too.

‘Testament’ leaves me wondering why Avram Fefer isn’t more widely noticed. He consistently brings the goods in composition, technique and sidemen – and delivers.

Full of vigor and moxie from start to finish, ‘Sing Me Some Cry’ harnesses the savvy of its participants, but that vast potential is reached only because Eric Revis has the insight to get so much out of them, and they in turn get the most out of Revis’ compositions.

‘Chants And Corners’ is an offshoot of recent Rob Mazurek endeavors, tweaking prior ideas and recycling supporting musicians in different combinations.

The mission on Gorilla Mask’s third long player ‘Iron Lung’ is much the same as before: direct, confrontational thrash-jazz that’s more purposeful, unpredictable and just plain fun.

It’s by far the most listenable effort led by Nick Millevoi, but lack of harshness, density and dissonance doesn’t mean the lack of art in ‘Desertion.’

Here is a review of Chris Lightcap’s Bigmouth’s “Epicenter,” the title track from the jazz supergroup’s upcoming new album.

From a punk attitude comes jazz aptitude; Gorilla Mask does it again.

The first-call acoustic bass player best known in five words or less as “Branford Marsalis’ bassist since forever” is preparing to release his own led-date In Memory of Things Yet Seen (March 25, 2014, Clean Feed Records). You May Also Like: Eric Revis – Sing Me Some Cry (2017)

Ches Smith’s These Arches boasts a line-up so powerful I had to check the statute books to see if this grouping was even legal. You May Also Like: The Sunny Four [David Torn, Aurora Nealand, Ches Smith + Tim Berne] – ‘MYSTIC’ (2023) Ches Smith – ‘Laugh Ash’ (2024) SunRead More