Haywire

This live performance from the Knitting Factory certainly features a wide range of emotions and tempos. Thomas Chapin is featured on alto, soprano, flute, and baritone with his regular trio (bassist Mario Pavone and drummer Michael Sarin) augmented by three strings (violinist Mark Feldman, cellist Boris Rayskin, and bassist Kiyoto Fujiwara). Feldman's heated solos and very active accompaniment of Chapin adds a great deal to the program, which consists of seven Chapin originals plus one song by Enrico Rava. With moods ranging from mildly introspective to riotous with a rousing closer in "Geek Gawkin'," this is one of Chapin's better recordings.