From a glance at the list of players and their instruments, Ensemble Kolossus could almost be an extra-large conventional jazz big band. But that idea is soon dispelled. Michael Formanek has reimagined the tones and textures that these 18 familiar instruments can create together, and the result is, to say the least, unsettling. From massive blocks of solid sound to delicate, wandering melodies, this music is bewildering in its sheer, determined difference. But it’s also gripping, because the ensemble acts as a setting for a parade of remarkable soloists. Over the CD’s 71 minutes, it gradually becomes clear that the unique sound of the band is the sum of its vibrant individual parts.
