John Moulder: Through the Open Door (Mo-Tonal Records)
Listeners who follow the Chicago jazz scene already are familiar with the searing guitar work of John Moulder, but his newest release should attract new converts. Whether he’s producing adventurous, free-flying lines on electric guitar or meditative improvisations on an acoustic instrument, Moulder stands as one of the most profound guitarists working in this city or any other. To his credit, though, he has surrounded himself with musicians of comparable depth and stature, with drummer Paul Wertico, pianist Jim Trompeter and bassist Eric Hochberg affording the leader plenty of rhythmic drive and ambient color. Together, these four musicians sum up the brains, brawn and beauty of Chicago jazz in the ’90s.
