Toronto bassist Bret Higgins leads a band that brings new hope to jazz fusion—except that their range is too wide to be entirely contained within that genre. Entirely instrumental, Atlas Revolt is often built around a steady rhythmic pulse and rock riffs. Guitarist Tom Juhas is outstanding, launching amp-shredding attacks when he isn’t waxing atmospheric. Aleksandar Gajic adds distinction with electric violin. The music is often edgy, occasionally hitting the edge of ecstasy, and draws influences from Eastern Europe (“Atlas Revolt”) and Latin America (“Sanan”).
