Confluence

On his fourth album as a leader, New York bassist and composer Dave Phillips takes his quartet Freedance to brand new places. The sole vehicle for Phillips’ writing since he moved to New York City in 1985, the core group consists of guitarist Rez Abbasi, alto saxophonist John O’Gallagher and drummer Tony Moreno. Confluence is true to its name: a collection of eight works that blend folklike melodies, mixed meters and dynamic instrumental interplay to create a modern chamber jazz sound. Freedance’s almost two decades together have allowed the group to reach a deep sense of ensemble that can only be achieved with time and natural chemistry. But for the first time, the quartet invited two guests to contribute. Pianist Jon Werking and percussionist Glen Fritten have brought additional dimensions of color to the group, broadening the spectrum of melodic and rhythmic textures. The release of Confluence will also find the group taking to the road as it’s done for years.