Jim Black (b. 1967) earned his reputation as a drummer with Dave Douglas' Tiny Bell Trio, Tim Berne's Bloodcount, Uri Caine and Ellery Eskelin. His debut record 'Alas No Axis' was released in 2000 and the title was adopted as the name of a scintillating quartet. A second record, 'Splay', was released in 2002, and was extremely well received by most critics, who described Black's radical approach as the 'jazz of the future'. With 'Habyor' (2004) - Jim Black's third record as a bandleader - he and his quartet tirelessly cleared a way through the musical jungle with a sound that ranged from tearing and jolting to melodious and mellow. Chris Speed I (b. 1967), who is also well-known in the jazz world, not only applies himself to the tenor saxophone and clarinet but to electronics as well. Jim Black's music initially gives one the impression of being opaque and fragmented. However, his compositions are an intelligent search for the right musical material, in the form of written or improvised works.