New Ink about Were We Where We Were on Circular File Records
“In other hands, jazz based on melodic palindromes could become a dry and academic affair, but for these guys it’s more like fun and games. After an intro in which Doxas’ soprano offers smeared glissandos that turn his notes into Silly Putty, the trio offers the main theme in the form of a canon. But even though Doxas and Formanek continue to reference that material in their playing, the improvisation is more conversational than structural. They also have a bit of rhythmic fun. “Tattarrattat” rambles from its opening rubato to a groove after Formanek’s bass solo that could almost be described as funky, while “Never Odd Or Even” has Doxas and Formanek offering the melody in unison, so that Sperrazza’s skittering cymbal work seems less like timekeeping than a kind of rhythmic counterpoint.”
“Formanek brings an orchestral sensibility to the organization of different settings, accompaniments and emotional pacing. And what voices he has: reedplayer Chet Doxas brings a lyrical approach to his improvising, as he murmurs, slides and corkscrews through Formanek’s charts, using twists and slurs to convey nuance, while Vinnie Sperrazza proves a tuneful drummer, crisp, conversational and tasteful in a good way where everything he plays lands just right. Formanek’s deeply resonant instrument simultaneously anchors and offsets, especially when in elaborate dialogue with Doxas’ cascading lines.”
“Throughout the disc, the bassist's his usual authoritative self, and his lines are unfailingly stabilizing and thoughtfully considered. Sperrazza's a consistently inventive travel partner who excels at adapting to the music's many shifts in character and direction. Doxas, of course, shoulders the lion's share of the melodic weight, but that role never gets in the way of his soloistic flights.”
“…individualism helps make the compositions stand out. These and others evolve linearly and confirm Formanek’s high-quality musical concepts.”