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Jazz Mandolin Project have a Bluegrass connection in their sound, thanks to Jamie Masefield's picking, but as their latest CD, Tour De Flux, reveals, JMP are an enthralling Jazz project through and through. The album was recorded on last year's tour of the same name, when JMP's Masefield and bassist (and former Cincinnatian) Chris Dahlgren were joined by Phish drummer Jon Fishman. The well-constructed compositions of Masefield and Dahlgren are given an elastic workout, taking the songs to improvisational heights and, above all, forever changing how the mandolin in traditionally perceived. Fishman is back to his day job (Ari Hoenig now beats the skins), but this show still promises to be a surprising and challenging experience for music lovers.
At Ripley's Alive on Monday.
—M . B .
