Metalwood – Metalwood (1997)

Metalwood’s debut, like all their work prior to 2002′s The Recline, has yet to be officially released in the States. (The jazz fusion quartet hails from Canada.) This raw, nasty record is buoyed by the strong musicianship and spirited interaction of Mike Murley on saxes, Brad Turner on keyboards (and trumpet), Chris Tarry on electric bass, and Ian Froman on drums. The tunes are loosely structured, even skeletal at times, with Turner’s Rhodes and assorted keys lending a hip, vintage flavor. From the extremely frenetic “Lateral” and “Hey Longhair!” to the mellower but equally crisp “Mr. Jack” and “Big Delivery,” Metalwood grooves consistently, putting plenty of jazz muscle into their open-ended jams.