Local Jazz

Mosaic: Identity Crisis

B & C Music, BC M08092a; available through CDBaby under “Heistand”
This self-described “art band” has the dedication and the chops to explore the out limits and test the depths of theory, and does so through the first half of this CD. They challenge the conventions of time and tone with unnerving starts and stops, tension-filled harmonies and strings of notes that are technically admissible but daunting. Mosaic neither flaunts their brilliance nor forces listeners to deal with the difficult, however

-- the arty stuff is bright and bouncy and full of charm, without being kooky or cloying. However, a “crisis” looms (you were warned), and for the second half of the CD the group applies its considerable skills
to a set of straight-ahead jazz-combo-withvocal numbers. Mosaic is the brainchild of Charlie Heistand, who has assembled a crack team of Seattle sidemen and lined them up behind fetching vocalist Jean Mishler. This is a crisis? Mosaic reels off one terrific tune after another, Mishler fully inhabiting all the songs, whatever the emotion. The band prefers tunes with some kick, so this record never bogs down. Neat-o! (Tom Petersen)