Aaron Parks: Little Big II: Dreams of a Mechanical Man

Cue up Aaron Parks’ Little Big II: Dreams of a Mechanical Man (Ropeadope) for the jazz pianist’s subtle and strong and emotionally urgent compositions and some remarkable group interplay. Filled out by Greg Tuohey (guitar), David “DJ” Ginyard (bass) and Tommy Crane (drums), Parks’ quartet engages in metaphysical battle on their second album together. While “Friendo” and “The Ongoing Pulse of Isness” constantly surprise with cunning twists and turns, “Solace” and “Unknown” chart the sort of emotional territory one might inhabit during an extended period of enforced time at home.