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OffBeat Magazine review of Time Ebbing:
3 Now 4
Time Ebbing
(Independent)
3 Now 4 are a constantly revolving and evolving unit that creates a continually fascinating universe of sound. Bassist James Singleton, pedal steel guitarist Dave Easley, drummer Jeffrey Boudreaux, and special guest reedman Nicolas Simion offer an engaging balance of atmosphere and adventure. While Singleton and Boudreaux form a solid rhythmic core that drives the band, Dave Easley is the one who really flies! Dave Easley has collaborated with Brian Blade, Daniel Lanois, and Joni Mitchell, and is one of the freshest and most essential voices in instrumental music today. Easley soars, shifts and flows, forming elegant patterns passing from sphere to shining sphere. Reedman Nicolas Simion was born and raised in the Carpathian Mountains of Transylvania and befriended Singleton in Vienna, leading to a friendship that has culminated with his joining 3 Now 4 for a European tour and on his recording debut with the band on Time Ebbing. Switching from saxophone to bass clarinet, Simion fits right in with 3 Now 4’s creative aesthetic. Simion offers a provocative and enthralling dance of colors, moods, and textures. I especially enjoyed Simion’s forays on the bass clarinet, digging into the deepest darkest colors in jazz expression. With the exceptions of “Lover Man” and Thelonious Monk’s “Off Minor,” Time Ebbing is an all original work featuring compositions that hover around the five to eight minute range and effortlessly form an enjoyable recording that offers many happy returns.
— Michael Dominici