(Contemporary Jazz, Mainstream Jazz) [WEB] Ark Ovrutski (feat. Ulysses Owens Jr, David Berkman, Michael Dease, Michael Thomas) - 44:33 - 2014, FLAC (tracks), lossless

When Ukrainian bassist Ark Ovrutski last recorded under his own name he was submerged in the Sounds Of Brasil (Self Produced, 2011), swimming in those rich rhythmic waters with Brazilian tastemakers like drummer Duduka Da Fonseca and pianist Helio Alves. Now, three years after that album landed, he returns with a more broad-based project that pairs him with Owens on the bottom end of the sonic spectrum.
This album gets its name from its shorter-than-the-norm running time, which happens to work in its favor. A longer-is-better trend has turned many could've-been-great albums into exhausting, run-on snooze-fests, but this one steers clear of that possible outcome. 44:33 is a complete album that doesn't try to cram in excessive and unnecessary music.
NOLA grooves and Michael Dease's wonderfully swampy trombone work make for a party at the album's port of departure—"New Orleans"—and a simply-titled, varied-temperament waltz finds the band on different footing on the follow-up. As the program continues, drive is the topic of the day on "Up," Dease and saxophonist Michael Thomas find common ground as things calm down on "Baby's Vibe," and things get a little funky in a bluesy sort of way on "Path Train."
Many an ear's tendency is to follow the horns, but the rhythm section on 44:33 is really at the root of things, and Owens, once again, is at the center of it all. (Dan Bilawsky, AllAboutJazz)

Michael Dease - trombone
Michael Thomas - alto sax, soprano sax
David Berkman - piano
Ark Ovrutski - double bass
Ulysses Owens - drums
& Benito Gonzalez - electric piano (7)