comPOsed Audio Samples

"Just when you thought that Lou Grassi might have exhausted the medium of his PoBand, he bounces back with an entirely new twist. . . As usual, Grassi's PoBand is full of surprises, with great soloing, sophisticated arrangements, and a pursuit of newness that never flaunts tradition. The band consistently produces some of the best music on the scene, and this album is a worthy part of its impressive legacy."
Steven Loewy allmusicguidetojazz.com

"The musicians pursue a celebratory vibe, marked by free-form interplay, conventional musings, and a bevy of cleverly enacted diversions. Nonetheless, the PoBand have devised a cogently stylistic statement that looms as one of the most important modern jazz records of 2002. (Passionately recommended)." Glenn Astarita allaboutjazz.com

"The recording is a slight departure for Grassi's PoBand, which is typically an all-improvising unit. For this occasion, Tchicai, at Grassi's request, wrote a half dozen pieces for the gig. The band makes the transition seamlessly . . . The music has an open, loose construction that fits naturally with the band's typical direction . . . There is an ongoing change in the musical direction occurring, which leads the players down unsuspecting avenues of improvised zesty enthusiasm . . . the collective voices speak in one unified language. This edition of the PoBand creates a joyful sound full of excitement and originality. They make bold, brassy, and fully satisfying music."
Frank Rubolino Cadence

"Lou Grassi . . . commissioned saxophonist John Tchicai to bring these compositions to what was previously a free improvising band. These results prove the wisdom of his faith in Tchicai's writing. There is an unexpected flavor of New Orleans polyphony, not the one found in the archivist's rear-view mirror, but rather the bubbling enthusiasm of free improvisers let loose on some attractive themes. The dance rhythms of the Caribbean also inform this session, a quality that supports repeated listening. Grassi is beyond the urge to set forth drum solos for their own sake. Preferring to make the rhythms sturdy platforms for his session mates . . . Bassist Wilber Morris makes his final session here, his steady influence solidifying Grassi's intentionally loose approach.
The PoBand on this outing is a formidable one, . . . Overall the music displays effortlessly the connection between modernism and early forms." Steve Vickery Coda

" . . . ComPOsed is fun music. There is a dixieland vibe . . . Tchicai's decades of musical experience have prepared him well for composing for improvisers. It is his work here that turns the PoBand into a group right out of a sweaty New Orleans summer night. . . ComPOsed is a fun romp with the group."
Matt Rand All About Jazz New York  

            " comPOsed is freebop at its finest. . . these are all John Tchicai's songs brought beautifully to life by the all-star assemblage. Powerfully emotional and direct, this is strong and assertive music by a true collective of rugged individualists."   
International Association of Jazz Record Collector's Journal Vol 36