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“Norwegian drummer/composer Thomas Stronen, a member of the experimental jazz band Food, returns with a quintet variation of his Time Is A Bling Guide project. Entitled Lucus, the 11-track album features the collective’s core members: violinist Hakon Aase, cellist Lucy Railton, and bassist Ole Morten Vagan, plus a valuable new addition with the up-and-coming Japanese pianist Ayumi Tanaka sitting in for Kit Downs.” – All Music

“Time Is a Blind Guide, fronted by Norwegian drummer Thomas Strønen, has made striking advancements in acoustic chamber jazz. Comprised of a traditional jazz piano trio augmented by violin and cello, the quintet blurs the genre lines between classical and jazz by exploring the limits of structure and freedom. Lucus, their second release on ECM, is a reference to the "light" Strønen wanted to let into the group, more precisely a sense of liberation and flexibility between written composition and free improvisation. The album is a polished exploration of textures and space that reflects the unity and cohesion of their ensemble dynamics. Featuring an excellent new pianist in Ayumi Tanaka, Lucus demonstrates how Time Is a Blind Guide have evolved as a strong modern ensemble.” – Pop Matters

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