Katalyst - Nine Lives (LP)

Nine Lives grips with the energy of infinite possibility and digs in with a drive that sets it apart – a forward propulsion that reflects the very movement of the Los Angeles jazz scene itself. Conceived solely on an improv basis, the album represents a highlight reel of two months of Sunday jam sessions that Katalyst spent together at their home base in Inglewood, California. Katalyst is much more than a nine-piece band – it is a collective of producers, composers, musicians, and writers that represent a veritable Who’s Who of the Los Angeles jazz community. While the album is infused with the free spirit of jazz exploration, the group’s forward-thinking sound is impossible to pigeon-hole into one genre. Each track was written by all nine members, and different instruments shimmer to the forefront as the album rolls, heaves, and pauses for breath.