Saunters, Walks, Rambles

Alto saxophonist Patrick Brennan favors subtle, nuanced takes on tradition. Here, he plies his style to a couple of Monk tunes (including two takes of "Misterioso"), Roscoe Mitchell's difficult "Noonah," and a selection of original compositions. Backed only by the markedly subordinate tones of Lisle Ellis' bass, Brennan "saunters, walks, and rambles" with mixed, though largely benign, results. He puts his work as an ex-trombonist to task with some serious plunger fire on "backAtcha," while his reading of "Noonah" is solidly appealing. If there is a lack of focus occasionally, it is compensated by his ability to merely hint at melodies and transform them into his own creations. Ellis is low in the mix (a result of the unique CIMP recording technique), but he adds depth and character nonetheless.