Symbols of Light

Greg Osby's casually abstract Symbols of Light (a Solution) is ostensibly a far cry from the spitting, angular electro-funk of his M-BASE heyday, but the flavour of those days--much of it his own rather than M-BASE's--is still there in the harmony and thematic improvisations that sometimes sound like a man battering himself heroically against an immovable wall. At other times, as on "M", Osby is beautifully, romantically lyrical. The lyrical flavour actually runs through the whole set, even at higher tempos, because the core quartet of Osby (saxophone), Jason Moran (piano), Scott Colley (bass) and Marlon Browden (drums) runs parallel with four carefully deployed strings. Few other jazz records have made more tasteful or better integrated use of strings. There's nothing syrupy about their embellishments, and the jazz rhythms are never compromised or squared off. This may partly be because jazz violinist Christian Howes plays a lead role, but in any event, Osby takes credit for excellent writing and hiring. Osby may toil quietly on the Blue Note label, largely untrumpeted, but he deserves to be lent our ears for his fine musicianship and rare musical integrity. He's one of the few contemporary musicians truly working on extending the unplugged small-band tradition in jazz, undistracted by the chimerical charms of cosy revivalism. --Mark Gilbert

Label: Unknown
Studio: Blue Note
Released: 2001-08-06
Format: Audio CD