"There's a fetching conundrum at the center of Liberty Ellman's ensemble music. Though spry and potent, it carries itself with a grace that puts a ceiling on exclamation. That kind of self-containment seems like it could be a bummer - improv's allure often stems from the music's enthusiasm, right? But in Ellman's case, it adds a dollop of intrigue by foregrounding etiquette; even as his tuba/trumpet/saxophone/guitar front line issues a tapestry of frisky salvos, a chamber temperament dominates. The pieces feel just as natural at a muted volume as they do cranked up high".
