JD Allen’s previous recording Americana won widespread critical acclaim for it’s ground breaking melodic and harmonic explorations and for its impressive emotional intensity. While that album presented Allen’s ideas with a somewhat contemplative hand, Radio Flyer moves with a more unbridled enthusiasm, testing the possibilities jazz has for individual expressionism and improvisational freedom. With guitarist Liberty Ellman on hand the quartet presents Allen’s seven original compositions bristling with energy while maintaining a cohesive, comprehensive unity of thought and purpose. “JD Allen’s writing for the tenor saxophone is effortlessly idiomatic, embroidered aria-like melodies and singular solo reflections give way to sinuous vocalastics and spirited dances. Textures are harmonically and unbelievably rich, yet never clogged.†– Raul da Gama “The JD Allen Trio is an almost telepathic, three-headed machine...But it’s important to emphasize that Allen himself is the best saxophonist under 60 in jazz, destined to be ranked with John Coltrane, Joe Henderson, Sonny Rollins, and Wayne Shorter. So if you haven’t been paying attention, the time to start is now.†– Burning Ambulance