Marty Ehrlich - Can You Hear A Motion (1994)

This quartet release matches the cool-toned reeds of Marty Ehrlich (heard on clarinet, alto, and soprano) and Stan Strickland (doubling on flute and tenor) with bassist Michael Formanek (who operates as an active partner) and the quietly supportive drummer Bobby Previte. Their unpredictable music ranges from free bop à la Ornette Coleman (including a tenor-alto duet rendition of Coleman's "Comme Il Faut"), a pair of John Carter tributes to Jaki Byard's "Ode to Charlie Parker" (which includes transcriptions of part of trumpeter Booker Little's solo from its original recording), and the modern classical harmonies of "Pictures in a Glass House." Throughout the improvisations are a logical outgrowth of the written sections and vice versa. The musicians constantly react to each other, making this stimulating and passionate but quiet music well worth acquiring.