"Phantasma Vol. II" is the third full-length release from bassist and composer Chris Coyle, and the second release on Passerine Records. He is joined on the recording by Phantasma Trio/Quartet bandmates and musical magicians Ron Stabinsky (piano/keyboards), Doug Hirlinger (drums), and Andrew Urbina (saxophones). Here, the group achieves a striking level of musical focus and intricacy, yet there is a pervasive sense of abandon, of tilted-headedness... dark sonic hues, polychords, and simmering anti-swing never felt so good. Coyle wrote the bulk of the music for this release, but the compositional voices of Hirlinger ("Snapshot" and "One Tall") and Stabinsky ("23rd on 87th") also ring loud and take the band down dangerous roads. Urbina lends his crystalline tone and daring improvisation, and allows the group to reach a deeper, more guttural expression. The album ends with a screaming invitation, an open house, and a celebration of the wild-self. Enjoy the ride, and may whatever you hear be true.

Some track notes and artistic leanings:

"Mianimal" might have to do with the pains and thrills of trying to stay human (or you might say stay an animal) while multi-tasking and reinventing ourselves to death.

"Snapshot for Reuel", according to Doug H:
Some 15 years ago while working through the pitches and rhythms that would become Snapshot For Reuel, I found myself thinking about conversations I had with my grandfather named Reuel, although he never used the name. He would ask about my musical aspirations. I would have a hard time explaining and he would have a hard time understanding. So at the time I thought this is a snapshot for him of what I’m about musically. He had already passed by the time I wrote the music so I didn’t get to share it with him.

"23rd on 87th", according to Ron S:
This composition began on the 87th anniversary of the birth of John Coltrane. It is written over the basic form of Coltrane's "Impressions," which itself is not only a contrafact of the 1959 modal classic "So What" by Miles Davis, but also a paraphrase of a section of Morton Gould's "Pavanne" from his much earlier 1939 composition American Symphonette No. 2. The "23rd" part of the title refers to the fact that, quite opposite to the tasteful modality of the Gould/Coltrane melody, this tune is extremely (and arguably tastelessly) chromatic as a result of being loosely inspired by the concept of 23rd chords.

"Not in My Haus/Open Haus" represents the ever-growing need to stay open minded - in the creative process, and in life. Putting limitations on things ("that's not my way") might leave you tripping and skipping vital beats. Embracing the idea that "all things teach" may lead you to your realest, most informed self, even if that self is moody and off-kilter.