October 2000

Peter Epstein
The Invisible
MA Recordings

By Chuck Berg

Saxophonist Peter Epstein is an open-ended conceptualist whose quartet's forays swell, storm and sidle off like a cinema collage of 24 hours in the life of a spring sky. On alto, Epstein's urgent sound, cascading geysers and pointillistic clusters suggest the influence of avant gardist Ornette Coleman. There's also a touch of the outdoors, a la Paul Winter and Jan Garbarek. Keyboardist Jamie Saft, bassist Chris Dahlgren and drummer Jim Black are sensitive and able collaborators. A fascinating amalgam of what might be best described as "free-form eco-jazz."