Blood Orange

by Scott YanowBassist Todd Sickafoose's quintet performs music that ranges from avant-funk and creative fusion to heated sound explorations and groovin' blowouts, even getting bluish on "Serpentine Four." Sickafoose sometimes also plays electric keyboards and guitarist Justin Morrell adds what are called "effects" to his sound. With high-energy solos provided by tenor saxophonist Ben Wendel and trombonist Alan Ferber along with heated drumming by Ches Smith, Blood Orange never becomes background music, safe, or predictable. The stimulating results, which are both tight and loose (this is a quintet in which each musician listens closely to each other even during the freer sections), will keep listeners guessing.