Ben Allison & Medicine Wheel

Lately, “modern jazz” has become a euphemism for either the overproduced imagemongers who have gained a firm grip on the commercial end of the FM dial or the often incoherent ambient ramblings of amateurs. Real artists such as bassist/composer Ben Allison rarely receive recognition outside the constrained circles of connoisseurs and aficionados.

Riding the Nuclear Tiger, Allison’s fourth studio effort fronting saxophonists Michael Blake and Ted Nash, Ron Horton on trumpet and flugelhorn, pianist Frank Kimbrough and drummer Jeff Ballard, showcases not only Allison’s gift for composition and arranging but also the entire ensemble’s vast musical range and reach.

The opening title track ducks, weaves and drives forward mercilessly with the help of Ballard’s relentless drumming and Blake’s edgy soprano sax work. On “Love Chant Remix,” a simple bass and piano vamp offers the foundation for a controlled study of musical color within the context of haunting horn harmonies.

Riding the Nuclear Tiger offers up its share of the avant-garde, from Kimbrough’s prepared piano on “Swiss Cheese D” to Blake’s two-at-once saxophone work on “Weazy.” Yet instead of seeming like gimmicks, these experiments serve the music as another hue on the compositional palette, evidence of Allison’s clear sense of vision and intent. Perhaps if his innovative techniques attract enough attention, his talent will gain wider exposure with casual listeners who only rarely get to experience the real deal.