17 Ways in Bloomington, MN

The Unstable Ensemble
is a five-person improvising ensemble originally hailing from the wilds around Bloomington, IN. Wielding several reed instruments, a guitar, and
electronics
, they survey the general area left in the wake of musicians like
James Blood Ulmer
, extending that tradition into more of a
free improv
territory while retaining a
rock
-tinged attack. Guitarist
Jason Bivins
has clearly absorbed not only
Ulmer
but also the tradition encompassing
Derek Bailey
and
Keith Rowe
(not to mention
Hendrix
), and seems to be the force prodding his bandmates away from "standard"
free jazz
improv and into the netherworld of post-
AMM
music. The saxophonists, on the other hand, tend toward another "traditional" path, albeit the tradition that extends to
Steve Lacy
Anthony Braxton
. This apparent diversity of approach alternately provides pieces of interesting tension and some that go meandering. But unlike many likeminded groupings,
the Unstable Ensemble
parcel out their work in bite-sized chunks, so if one track doesn't quite gel, another is coming right up that probably works just fine. There are even rather humorous moments, as on
"Creaking House,"
where they suddenly find themselves very close to
Julius Hemphill
's
"The Hard Blues."
Taken as a whole,
17 Ways
is like a big, sometimes messy family gathering, with much good cheer and conversation as well as the occasional spilled glass of wine or hurt feelings. It's a fun disc. ~ Brian Olewnick