Cooke Quintet - “An Indefinite Suspension of the Possible ” - [Black Hat Records]

A wonderful depth of sound and style is to be found on this oft reminiscent release. Taking the intriguing mixture of cello, trombone and koto (the Japanese stringed instrument which is layed on the ground and plucked) for a full spin around its realm of interesting possibilities while Michael Cooke takes a dance with every wind instrument he can get his hands on, these (for jazz) youngsters deliver a surprisingly mature and thoughtful work which often exudes joy without jumping out of its track. This is the truly pleasant surprise of this work - how it encompasses such a rich degree of feeling yet still manages to sound largely as a single piece. Repeat listens are well rewarded, but there is plenty to behold on the first pass, even for jazz neophytes. Tracks are longish, and a bit weighty, although sparse in sound at times. A welcome entry from a group with a lot of potential. Suspend your disbelief, don’t worry about what’s possible, and enjoy what has already been realized.

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