Although The Out-of-Towners is dominated by standards such as "It's All in the Game," the title trio is hardly bound by tradition. For proof, check the Jarrett-penned title cut, which swings through a plethora of post-bop moods over the course of nearly twenty minutes. Haden, for his part, uses a lithe ten-piece band anchored by pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba to survey the music of Mexico. Tunes such as "De Siempre (Forever)" display a lush, semi-orchestral melancholy that's simultaneously contemporary and timeless.
The listening on these discs isn't as easy as it seems at first blush. And they're all the better for it.
