Fitz Patrick

On The Iconoclast, bassist Barry Stephenson follows up his fine 2015 album, Basic Truths, and again teams up brilliantly with drummer Jamison Ross. They reign as the sole members of the rhythm section of this jazz quartet that includes two reedmen, Ricardo Pascal and Patrick Bartley. The somewhat unusual instrumentation of the group, minus a keyboard or guitar, perfectly suits these talented musicians and offers the freedom that they enjoy and require to tackle Stephenson’s challenging compositions. Interestingly, yet not perhaps importantly, many of the tunes musically sound like their titles such as the edgy opener, “Fitz Figgity Phoom Phoom,” a progressive adventure that incorporates an ear-opening variety of elements.