Kurt Rosenwinkel: Star of Jupiter

Star of Jupiter is a double album that steers clear of being over-indulgent. It also doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but that’s not the plan here for guitarist Kurt Rosenwinkel and his band. Vamps and odd meters are the name of the game for this 12-song, 92-minute set. The talents of pianist/organist Aaron Parks and drummer Justin Faulkner keep such tricks hidden, almost easily so. And while anyone with a mild familiarity of fusion jazz will think that Rosenwinkel is just mining familiar territory, a surrendered listen reveals that he’s slowly chipping away at the outer reaches of his musical language. In it’s own small and subtle way, Star of Jupiter is inventive and compelling — with maybe a potential to reprogram the listener without them even knowing it.