"Free Radicals" is a hard-swinging Matt Zebley original from his 1998 concert recording Live at Moondog, featuring the full three-horn front line in an up-tempo showcase of post-bop improvisation. The 36-bar AABA form in F minor at 220 beats per minute provides a bracing harmonic framework for three contrasting solo voices. Zebley takes the opening three-chorus alto saxophone solo, his lines combining the bebop vocabulary's rhythmic precision with a contemporary harmonic sensibility. Trumpeter Ron Stout follows with two choruses that bring a brighter tonal quality and crisp articulation to the proceedings. Trombonist Alan Ferber contributes two choruses of his own, his improvisation demonstrating the kind of fluid technique and harmonic awareness that set him apart as one of the more accomplished trombonists of his generation. The tune's title suggests scientific unpredictability, an apt metaphor for the creative chemistry among the three horn players as they navigate the challenging form at speed. The live recording captures the band in a state of heightened engagement, the audience's presence adding an extra charge to an already energetic performance. "Free Radicals" is among the most exciting tracks on an album that consistently delivers high-level ensemble jazz.
