Those who read my blog regularly may remember that I was impressed by the post-jazz trio Plaistow and its debut recording. The trio, consisting of painist Johann Bourquenez , bassist Raphaël Ortis , and drummer Cyril Bondi, have completed their second effort titled Do You Feel Lucky?. If you liked the first album, wait until you hear this. Plaistow has pulled out all the stops and managed to make this one of my favorite albums featured in 2008 and one of the best online jazz albums.

Plaistow takes more chances here. Starting with a salute to minimalist Steven Reich, the composition starts as a Reich-influenced piece then uses the keyboard as the pace setter while the drummer and bassist erupts with sounds that I’m not even sure how they managed to create. “Crash” is a theme played repeatedly and just when you are started to get irritated with it goes off into a improvisatory pyrotechnics display. “Aki’s Apple” is a delightful solo piano vehicle while the last track “Yap-Yap” brings the trio back for what may be the best effort on the album. All the tunes are originals which only strengthen the fact that this is a first rate jazz ensemble and a first rate album.

Do You Feel Lucky? is available in a full album zip of 256kbps MP3. The album is released through the 12rec.net netlabel.

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