Quinsin Nachoff, Flux

Some albums suddenly grab you at the second listen or so for their remarkable qualities. Tenor saxophonist-jazz composer Quinsin Nachoff's album Flux (Mythology Records MR0012) did that to me. He works here with a bassless quartet of self on tenor, David Binney on alto, Matt Mitchell on piano and keys, and Kenny Wollesen on drums and percussion. These are players with lots of fire and soul that devote themselves to realizing Nachoff's unusual and sometimes complicated pieces with exemplary spirit and interpretive brilliance.

The lines are almost folksy-Bartoksy, but no, there is a Nachoff-sian something, too, that sets it apart.

If you are looking for brainy heat, you can put your money on this one. It is excellent.