Electronic artist BlankFor.ms (Tyler Gilmore to the ‘rents) joins with jazz piano titan Jason Moran and hugely respected drummer Marcus Gilmore for Refract, an adventure in glitched-out improvisation. Beginning with “Onset” (parts I and II), the kind of out-and-out free improv that would likely grind the gears of anyone not used to such things, the trio explores a wide variety of sonic terrain. Moran and Gilmore do their thing while BlankFor.ms twists and turns through a variety of tape loops, soundscapes, and effects, leading to luminous balladry like “Tape Loop D” (parts I-III), skittering speed jazz like “Eight Pose,” and ambient grooves like “Inward, Curve.” Though many of the sounds call back to forebears like GoGo Penguin and the Neck, the talent involved means the trio never quite souns like anyone before. And even if Refract entice with its far-out sonics, it’s always cool to hear intrepid musicians dance with danger in real time.
