Ab Baars, Verderame (CD)

Dutch reed player Ab Baars gives a cross section of his playing on 1997's Verderame. It's more chromatic than textural or melodic, with less frequent nods to jazz than his work with ICP and less aggression than his collaborations with the Ex. His clarinet work shows a bit more breadth than the sax pieces, but he's an expressive player all around. Dick Lucas's competent engineering captures the subtlety in Baars's playing, while the cover painting is a bit non-descript.