This collaboration jettisons traditional structures completely, while still finding some shockingly beat-savvy textures--courtesy of Derek Jones's moaning fretless bass and Aaron Johnston's half-rock/half-jazz drumming--as well as some luxuriant, Eastern-based melodies, especially the opening "Couscous" and the final group improvisation (of three) "Autumn Aleatorics." The eclectic influences can be measured in the cover choices--Hendrix, Bach, and Brazilian mandolinist Jacob Do Bandolim--and the overall approach is that of world music shot through with heady, challenging improvisation. Jam is the funkiest, earthiest album Anger and Marshall have made to date. --Roy Kasten

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