In Finland

With its beautiful sound, In Finland captures three master improvisers live and spinnin’ takes. Longtime fans of Matthew Shipp who miss his prolonged flights into thundering, gothic creations: this is your fix. With two tracks hovering around the thirty-minute mark, the performances allow Shipp room to stretch and flex. Joe McPhee sticks mainly to a rich-toned soprano sax, although he plays some playful pocket trumpet. A veteran of Mark Whitecage’s ensembles as well as a frequent collaborator of McPhee’s, bassist Dominic Duval plays rough, his hands exploding with fat, rapid-fire plucking or smeared arco. -Rex Butters, All About Jazz