Vice & Virtue
is an absorbing duo session featuring trumpeter
Ralph Alessi
and drummer
Shane Endsley
, with trombonist
Tim Albright
guesting on four tracks and
Endsley
doubling on trumpet (mostly on those same tracks). Subtly contrasting duo readings of
Ornette Coleman
's
"Peace"
bookend the program, and lively, arresting interpretations of tunes by
Monk
,
Carla Bley
, and
Leo Robin
and
Ralph Rainger
balance out the original music -- highlights of which include
Alessi
's driving
"Soy Ink"
(the one cut to feature both trombone and drums) and
's dense three-horn excursion
"Post Scuffle."
Fans of challenging improvised music will find a lot of food for thought here. ~ David R. Adler