Bassist/composer Marc Piane’s composition “Diver” kicks off PlaySPACE 2: Play Harder, out via Bandcamp on May 6, 2022. It’s an adventurous jump into Chris Greene Quartet’s new live album. The song’s rhythmic punch provided by Paine and longtime drummer Steve Corley is dynamic and at times frantic. They are equally matched by Chris Greene’s in-your-face soloing, and the deep tone of the tenor saxophone. Damien Espinosa helps with the mid-song change in tempo and feel, then builds in intensity along with the rhythm section. “Divers” demonstrate changes and tones throughout its more than 13 minutes, giving each member a solo spot to enhance the integrity. As an opening track, it’s quite a dive in the deep end. 

Available now if you preorder is “Samba Fu Maga” which demonstrates the band’s stunning versatility. This Chris Greene original represents the only studio recording on the album, and combines Greene’s wonderfully excessive tenor weaving magic with the rhythm section in 7/8. PlaySPACE 2: Play Harder also contains worthy covers of “Caravan,” Hank Williams’ (yes, that Hank Williams) “You Win Again” and “Omi (Fresh Water),” which is available as an immediate download if your preorder now. My only complaint of the album is that I didn’t witness any of these live performances at Space in Evanston, Ill.