The astounding quartet Incerto—guitarist Julian Lage, pianist Brian Marsella, bassist Jorge Roeder, and drummer Ches Smith—testifies to two fundamental Zorn principles. First, he builds communities through collaboration, and, when the time is right, connects them. Second, Zorn writes for the players assembled, keying on their particular strengths. That has perhaps never been more apparent than with Incerto, where athletic compositions that start, twist, stop, and redirect without warning hinge on the abilities of Lage, Marsella, Roeder, and Smith.
