Quit Smoking Monday

...Trombonist Chris Abelen uses clearly defined rhythms and soloistically varied motives, while avoiding overzealously running the changes into the ground. Abelen is apparently fond of march rhythms, at times rigid but then suddenly shaken loose into a shuffling mark time. But there is also room for long, gliding drones or a cheerful calypso. His pieces are short and to the point, and result in a kind of ensemble music whose restless intervals and lightly dissonant colouring is reminiscent of Eric Dolphys Out to Lunch. Again a characteristic compromise between fantasy and order.Frank van Herk

dance of the penguins