"Featuring Reuben Radding on double bass, Matt Moran on vibes and Oscar Noriega on clarinet. Three of downtown"s better players from different backgrounds come together to make this an inspired trio offering. Reuben can be heard in a duo or trio with Daniel Carter as well as that great trio with Carrie Schull (oboe) and Tara Flandreau (viola). Matt Moran is a member of the great Claudia Quintet, as well as with that recent gem from Monika Heidemann. Oscar Noriega has a swell CD on Omnitone, is a member of Satoko Fujii"s NY Big Band and has a clarinet duo with Chris Speed. This trio, however, sounds more like the great Jimmy Giuffre Trio (w/ Paul Bley & Steve Swallow) from the mid-sixties. Very thoughtful, contemplative, elegant and quietly fascinating. Reuben wrote six of the nine tunes with two trio compositions and a version of Messiaen"s "Dance of Fury". On the trio"s "Siren", they stretch out each note with great suspense and spaciousness. I dig the way the trio perform "Canal and Lafayette", The theme is stated by the clarinet, shadowed by the vibes and later the bass takes over the central thread. Oscar"s lush tone and careful, cautious clarinet playing is superb throughout. The clarinet and vibes both do a fine job of letting their notes resonate into dreamlike drone/notes, while Reuben"s bass often provides the thread that holds the trio together. An auspicious date from one fine trio. (Bruce Lee Gallanter, Downtown Music Gallery)