Now vs. Now showcases the deep talents of a trio of New York jazz formalists: Mark Guiliana, Panagiotis Andreou and headliner Jason Lindner. As a solo artist, Lindner's bohemian brew is the epitome of stoner-friendly jazz, but with the help of longtime collaborator Meshell Ndegeocello, Now vs. Now forges into altogether undeveloped musical terrain.
The modus operandi of "Big Pump" is aural overload: With its odd-metered measures, the song functions as a throwback to bebop and shape-shifting jazz, but with hip-hop sophistication and the sensibilities of a jazz-rock band. Enormously controlled, Lindner executes flawless funk grooves over Guiliana's kinetic, steady-handed percussion. A state of pure bliss kicks in with the arrival of iconic Manhattan spoken-word artist Baba Israel, who infuses a jazzman's swing with an MC's braggadocio. In short, "Big Pump" is a love letter to New York City, chock full of cosmopolitan wizardry and wonder. It's an apt tribute: a sound collage of a place that never stops moving.
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