Altoist Aaron Irwin’s Into the Light is a particularly intriguing set. On some selections Ryan Scott’s guitar sounds a bit like Bill Frisell (no easy task), making the group seem a bit like the Paul Motian Trio with Frisell and Joe Lovano despite the inclusion of bass. Occasionally, the interplay between Irwin and tenor saxophonist Rich Perry (who is on five of the eight numbers) is reminiscent of Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh, particularly on “So in Love.” But much of the time the performances are quite original. Whether floating out-of-tempo or swinging hard, Irwin’s music (he contributed five of the eight selections) is full of surprises and is consistently unpredictable. This CD grows in interest with each listen and is highly recommended. – Scott Yanow
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