East Axis - No Subject (Brother Mister Productions/Mack Avenue)

Two years ago, the jazz scene was blown away by Cool With That, the recording debut of spontaneous compositional band East Axis, a mind-boggling new band consisting of veterans Matthew Shipp (piano), Gerald Cleaver (drums), Kevin Ray (bass) and saxophonist Allen Lowe. Dismissing any notion of the conglomeration being a one-off, the quartet returns, with Scott Robinson in place of Lowe, for sophomore effort No Subject. Unlike a lot of free improvisers, the players here understand the value of narrative, and join together to tell a story whenever they pick up the tools of their trade. You never get the impression that there are looks of “what now” between the musicians when it’s time to play – only an unspoken but clear communication. Thus, whether the quartet meanders through the fields of “Excuse My Absence,” strolls through the darkened rooms of “To Be Honest,” or blasts down the highway of “Decisions Have Already Been Made,” they do it with a sense of purpose, a common goal in mind, even as they make up every soaring note or turn of phrase as they go along. While it doesn’t have the same element of “Whoa!” that Cool With That does, No Subject still astonishes with its power, grace and magnificently synergistic performances.