by Scott Yanow
Joey Baron does the near-impossible on this CD, making music in a trio comprised of his drums, trombonist Steve Swell and tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin; no piano, guitar or bass. Some of the originals find the unusual group resembling a high school band a bit while other pieces are quite explorative and interesting. The fact that the spirited group sounds complete much of the time is particularly notable.