Vinny Golia - Lineage (1999)

Golia's democratic approach in giving other musicians space and opportunity to record has always been admirable, but it's great to hear him step out with his own group. This is a smoldering quartet date with trumpet master Bobby Bradford, bassist Ken Filiano, and drummer Alex Cline. Golia uses his variety of saxes and clarinets to create a chamber-like free bop foundation that allows everyone ultimate expressionistic choices within loose rhythmic structures. The most arresting moments are when Golia and Bradford play unison lines. Golia goes for it on lower end reeds -- bass clarinet, tenor or baritone sax, Bradford on muted or unmuted trumpet. You'll hear easy, free-wheeling swing on "Hello Mrs. Minifield" and the harder bopping, orgasmic "Hsaibde." A bluesy edge pervades the long-winded, sometimes intense "Tenorphonicity." Filiano is at the pitch black core of the focused trumpet-bass clarinet feature "So Close to Where You Live," and the light blues funk of "Caught by Surprise" also has an alluring improvised trumpet-bass clarinet centerpiece that seems to be Golia and Bradford's most comfortable zone. The avant-garde of jazz is well served by Golia as a definer and refiner of this style. Golia has chosen sidemen well, but they act more like equal partners in this organic, West Coast, homegrown ensemble that plays serious, skillful improvisational music.