Free jazz is back in Minneapolis and in a big way. I don't know about your neck of the woods, but we've got a punchy, fucked up scene of honkers and slammers who'll mess you up if you're not careful. Dave King, the drummer of the hour -- he's in no less than ten Minneapolis based bands -- is basking in the glow of his latest caveat, Happy Apple. Somewhere between John Coltrane and Rohypnol, Happy Apple's debut CD hurts where it should and breathes easy when the clouds break. The rhythms are off the wall but seductive, the dueling saxes of Michael Lewis and Anton Denner pit right lobe vs. left lobe, and the upright bass playing of Cully Swansen seals the deal with a lick and a kiss.

Disturbing? Disarming? Eclectic? Shit, I dunno, but it's all good.

-Jason Josephes