Toronto guitarist Avi Granite delivers an impressive collection of twisting melodies and free-form arrangements on the follow-up to his debut Avi Granite: 5. There’s a laid-back vibe to Red Tree, which allows for the six-piece band to stretch out considerably. And since Granite doesn’t provide much in the way of comping, his occasional countermelody or noodling accompaniment lends an even more abstracted quality to the solos. While the all the players skilfully elaborate on Granite’s clever melodies — with Granite himself and drummer Nick Fraser chasing each other’s rhythms on “6th Man” and tenor saxophonist Jonathan Kay working a loose post-bop flexibility for a swarm of notes on “Ghetto Panda” — the penultimate track “In 4 Scenes” develops the band’s impressionistic ensemble ability, drifting between breakbeats and open time, squeals and wails, and even featuring a slide whistle from the horn section for four of the most avant-jazz movements on the record.

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