Irreversible Entanglements - Irreversible Entanglements (2017)

From the moment "Chicago to Texas" begins in a riot of restless drum rolls, solo trumpet improvisation and cosmic beat poetry, you know that Irreversible Entanglements' debut album is going to be an enjoyable listen. The free jazz collective first performed in 2015, later adding two more members to become the inspired five-piece showcased here. Remarkably, the four epic workouts featured were genuine improvisations recorded on their very first day in the studio. Given their quality - especially the spiritual "Fireworks" and cacophonous "Projects", a 16-minute epic that changes tack several times - it would be safe to say that the players involved all have serious skills. Impressive stuff, all told.