Straight Lines (album)

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Straight Lines is a jazz studio album by Ken Vandermark, released in 1999. It was recorded on September 3, 1998, at Airwave in Chicago and released by Atavistic, produced by John Corbett. The album features the Joe Harriott Project, a pianoless quartet that includes four members of Vandermark’s group, the Vandermark 5, playing the music of Jamaican saxophonist Joe Harriott. Vandermark transcribed and arranged the material. Seven tracks are performed: three from Harriott’s Free Form and four from Abstract. The trio/quartet lineup includes Vandermark, Jeb Bishop (trombone), Kent Kessler (bass), and Tim Mulvenna (drums). AllMusic praised the album for its odd time signatures and strong improvisation, calling it a solid tribute. The Penguin Guide to Jazz, however, felt the recording was under-rehearsed and a bit stiff, suggesting the players were overly faithful to Harriott’s themes.