Zach Lober - NO FILL3R (ZenneZ)

Though this is his first album as a leader, Zach Lober is no late bloomer – he’s had two decades of experiences as a sideperson and composer in the States and Europe. That gives NO FILL3R, recorded in the Netherlands with drummer Sun-Mi Hong and trumpeter Suzan Veneman, a craft and confidence many debuts don’t have. It also means the well-versed Lober can dip into any stylistic permutation of jazz he likes and come out on top. Thus he can move from sonorous balladry (“A Hymn”) and anthemic bop (“Force Majeure”) to rumbling groove (“Luck [Alice]”) and free improvisation (the title tune). The sparse setting lets the air swirl around the instruments and the contrast between Veneman’s brassy tone and Lober’s woody thrum becomes more stark and appealing. The bassist also shows that he’s a generous boss by letting his sidefolks each have a solo track. Indeed, Lober sounds so assured on NO FILL3R that it’s a wonder he waited twenty years before hoisting his own flag.