Josh Roseman Unit

jazz

With credits spanning everyone from Steve Coleman to Groove Collective to John Zorn, Josh Roseman is the closest you'll come to a house trombonist for the downtown scene. Boston-bred and New England Conservatory-trained, he's a gutsy avant-garde bone man equally indebted to Fred Wesley and Roswell Rudd. His Josh Roseman Unit traffics in the old school fusion tradition: Tempos and time signatures change frequently, solos build to the blistering point and each groove feeds the next. Treats for the Nightwalker (Enja Justin Time), the group's second album, consists entirely of original tunes, some of which mine an acoustic-funk vibe reminiscent of Dave Holland (who has employed Roseman in his big band). Other tracks lie even deeper in the cut, thanks to monster drummer Billy Kilson (who, incidentally, is a member of Holland's various groups). Here the JRU will be comprised of Roseman, longtime associate Peter Apfelbaum on reeds, Liberty Ellman on guitar and Ari Hoenig on drums.

Mon., Jan. 19, 8 p.m., free, Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce St., 215-898-6533.

—Kyle Parker

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