Mario Pavone Orange Double Tenor

Bassist Mario Pavone steps out from his usual role of formidable sideman for the likes of Thomas Chapin and Paul Bley to lead a stellar band that gives their heart and soul to playing this 12-song collection of his compositions. Whether it's the incendiary Tony Malaby tenor sax solo on "Silver Print" or tenorist and pianist Peter Madsen's probing, motivic unwinding of the materials provided in "T/Pi T/Po," the disc is loaded with playing that's emotionally charged and intellectually stimulating. Pavone's charts get a big sound out of his sextet: ensemble sections in tunes like "Continuing" come together in lush harmonies or veer off in interconnected, but independent, lines. On that tune, Madsen ends his puckish solo with a thunderous downward cascade giving way to trumpeter Dave Ballou, who plays with nonchalant clarity and disarming eloquence. The Asian-ish dance groove on "17 Note," powered by the exhilarating drumming of Gerald Cleaver and featuring a punchy, swirling Jimmy Green tenor sax ramble, finishes the disc, leaving the listener wishing a second would be coming soon.