Michele Rosewoman & Quintessence - Contrast High (1994)

The music on this CD fits into the loose area of M-Base that was being liberally documented in the late '80s. Pianist Michele Rosewoman teams up with several key leaders of the style (altoist Greg Osby, tenor saxophonist Gary Thomas, bassist Lonnie Plaxico, and drummer Cecil Brooks) to perform nine of her often rhythmic but complex originals. The music is somewhat avant-garde, but logical in its own way. None of the distinctive musicians sound anything like their predecessors and this is a release that needs to be heard a few times to be fully appreciated. © Scott Yanow