Album DescriptionCurvature's new release, Around About Now, is a dynamic collection of smokin' tunes ? definitely Curvature at their most gregarious. Produced by Jack West with generous assistance from Lee Townsend, Curvature?s fifth CD showcases seven of West?s new compositions presented by the ensemble on unusual and wonderful instrumentation. Around About Now integrates West's unique take on acoustic jazz and blues with elements of country, electronic music, hip/hop and gospel brought in by the ensemble. Featuring Jack West on 8-string acoustic guitar, Joel Davel on electronic marimba, David Phillips on 14-string pedal steel, and drummer Darian Gray. These world-class musicians have developed masterful improvisational techniques and tight ensemble timing. Although West is hesitant to categorize his music, he defines it as "modern American music by a musician from Georgia that?s living in the diverse cultural landscape of California." Residing in the San Francisco Bay Area has allowed Jack! to experiment with unusual combinations of instruments that give shape to his compositions and have helped him develop his style. It has also given him a chance to work with a slew of top Bay Area artists: Mike Marshall, Calder Spanier (formerly with Charlie Hunter Quartet), Scott Amendola, Jon Evans, George Brooks (Zakir Hussain?s Rhythm Experience), Jenny Scheinman, Mark Summer (Turtle Island String Quartet), and many others.