Muze

Omer Avital Group / Room To Grow
Smalls Records SRCD-0020
by Mark Keresman

Beginning as a New York City club and evolving into a label, Smalls is where jazz--acoustic, straight-ahead, uncompromising, and/or mellow--thrives. Bassist, composer, and Smalls "regular" Omer Avital, leads a six-member ensemble specializing in some fascinating, challenging, and ultimately exhilarating music. Whether performing originals or interpretations, Avital's approach draws upon many influences: small-group, hard bop, and avant-garde jazz, as well as European classical music and sounds of India and North Africa. Recorded live, with each selection averaging 20 minutes, ROOM presents expressive, unfettered soloing and inspired arrangements.