Best Local Jazz Act

The Fringe

Firestarters "How much of that was planned?" asked a first-time visitor to one of the Fringe's recent fire-breathing sets. "None of it," said drummer Bob Gullotti. Spontaneous collective improvisation is perhaps the most daring high-wire act in jazz, and the Fringe have set the standard for more than 25 years. Their sound was born out of the "new thing" of late Coltrane, early Archie Shepp, the Sam Rivers trios, and any number of fellow travelers from the Chicago scene. But the Fringe's music has clearly been their own for a long time. All three band members -- Gullotti, saxist George Garzone, and bassist John Lockwood -- are seasoned virtuosos with a mastery of the tradition (all are in demand as sidemen and teachers, and Garzone has released a couple of highly regarded solo CDs). But the group sound is itself remarkable. Sets are unplanned, but there are plenty of tunes. A standard or original may serve as a starting point for a 30-minute unbroken flight, an attentive three-way conversation. This is the Fringe's third win in the category (having won in 1989 and 1993), propelled perhaps by a new base of operations (the Lizard Lounge, where they pack them in every Monday night) and a fine new album, Live in Israel (Soul Note).

-- Jon Garelick