Ensemble Off N On

The music in this compact disk is invigorating, thought provoking, wry and deadly serious, many times in the space of just one piece. While Kangas, Jarrell and Magsino individually bring much to the table as gifted improvising soloists, it is the collective creativity of this band, unified around telepathic and complementary interactions, that makes the manner in which they play their music compelling. Jarrell and Magsino show themselves to be engaging composers. The original compositions not only reveal Jarrell's and Magsino's eclectic interests, but the group's ability to frame new things out of preexisting forms. To simply call the Frank Kimbrough, Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra and Jimi Hendrix compositions covers would do a great disservice to the rich creative capital Kangas, Jarrell and Magsino bring to these great pieces..., talk about reimagining! This is important music. -Rick Helzer Associate Director of Jazz Studies San Diego State University.