Plunge
Tin Fish Tango
Immersion Records
www.plunge.com
By George W. Harris

Here’s something for those who think all music is the same old “same-old.” Drummerless trio Plunge consists of James Singleton/b, Tim Green or Tom Fizpatrick/sax and Mark McGrain/tb, and have put out a couple of albums before this beauty. The music has an airy and spaciousness to it; while it’s labeled as “chamber jazz” the music is really not that easy to pigeon hole. The best part of this music is that for most of the time the beat or groove is implied, with each member taking a turn at supplying the rhythm or riff to keep the music going forward. After that’s been settled, they either develop concise and articulate melodies or slightly wander off into wistful rabbit trails. Tangos, waltzes, blues, funk and deep grooves are all in abundance, with the best moments sounding like an interval in a Mingus composition. “Strollin’ With Sidney” and “Love’s Wildest Talent” are in genius amalgamations of attractive melodies and concise soloing. A couple of the songs like “Jugs” indulge in the tempting freely improvised solo excursions, but these are excusable when taken in the whole context. Clever in idea and production.