Jeff Younger's Sandbox

Canada's music improvising community has grown in leaps and bounds over the years, and Vancouver remains a place where artists thrive and create great music. This release by a relatively young band (in the world of improvised music) showcases the compositions of guitarist Younger and the ensemble playing of Dave Chokroun (bass), Kristian Naso (trumpet), Darren Williams (tenor) and Ben Wilson (drums). The music is vital, varied and consistently well executed. The ensemble play each composition with close attention to the elements provided and improvise with imagination and cohesion. Tunes like "Silt" sustain quiet moods without a drop in energy, while the free improv of "Rug Stain Saint" showcases an exuberance and high level of communication that speaks well of the commitment of each musician to the music. It should also be noted that this work is part of a great five-CD release of music from Vancouver focused by Now Orchestra. Check it out!