This was indeed one of the most intense and explosive sets of this year's fest. The band was on fire some the first note and my man, Sabir Mateen, erupted on the first solo on alto sax, the impressive rhythm team kicking hard underneath Sabir's screaming sax. Matt Heyner opened the next piece with some mysterious bowed bass, and soon the theme evolved with a most memorable melody and superb slow burning solos from Steve's trombone and Sabir's tenor sax. Sabir's solo started out softly and soon built to boiling point. The third piece had one of those enchanting South African-like gospelish themes that we all love so dear, with the under-recognized John Blum playing another of his great piano solos. Both Steve on trombone and Sabir on various reeds took a number of impressive solos throughout this fine set. This is, without a doubt, one of the finest bands to emerge from the downtown scene in many years. (BLG, Downtown Music Gallery)

Steve Swell - trombone; Sabir Mateen - alto sax, tenor sax, clarinet, alto clarinet; Matthew Heyner - double bass; Klaus Kugel - drums

Recorded at Newsonic Studios, Brooklyn, New York October 4, 2005