If Onyx Collective, the nebulous jazz ensemble whose name you may have overheard in downtown Manhattan at some point in the past couple years, seems elusive it is because oftentimes they are.Onyx Collective's enigmatic nature is undeniably a part of its allure, but the force that truly propels the group is technical musical proficiency (the band's members attended New York's musical conservatories as kids) coupled with a reckless abandon. Onyx runs a manic energy through their classical training to create a live show that at times feels as punk as it does jazz. Barr is known to wield two saxophones simultaneously, playing both over Williamson's feverish drumming.

Lower East Suite Part Three is a mood hard to capture but Julian Schnabel’s artwork does quite a good job at emulating the curious wanderings of this album. The Onyx Collective are a trio who make music that entices you to follow them. Sonically, it even sounds as if you’re trying to chase them around the corner they just turned down. It is less about jazz and gentrification and eviction notices (as the track titles suggest) and more because of all these things - immediately subsequent to them. When everyone talks about how exciting jazz is at the moment, I think this is what they mean.

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