Michael Mason and the Exploratory Ensemble

Michael Mason and the Exploratory Ensemble: Signal

by John Kelman
February 21, 2004

It is an uncomfortable thing, indeed, to come across an album that is, for the most part, successful as a contemporary exploration of post bop themes, but which contains a glaring problem with the leader of the ensemble. While flautist Michael Mason has some interesting ideas and an appealingly dark tone, his intonation is annoyingly imperfect and makes Signal something less than an easy listen.

Nowhere is this more evident than on “Mahjong,” where he holds long notes that are ...