Billy Bang long ago earned his reputation as an engaging leader and violin soloist in avant-garde circles. Luckily that has not stifled his abilities and ambition to play in more straight-ahead settings as he does on Big Bang Theory. Bang's assembled drummer Codaryl Moffett, pianist Alexis Pope, and bassist Curtis Lundy -- musicians easily capable of improvisation while maintaining a cohesive balance. Bang scored five originals including "At Play in the Fields of the Lord" providing Pope and Lundy ample solo space to shine and "One For Jazz," a tribute to drummer Dennis Charles that starts with voice and drum and hauntingly falls into full quartet momentum. The inclusion of Freddie Hubbard's exuberant composition "Little Sunflower and a joyous funky version of the traditional "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" sum up the projects overt statement of spirituality that borders on experimentation while maintaining conventional structures.

-Al Campbell