Motivated by his desire to create a positive, co-operating scene for new music Ben Allison shaped the Jazz Composers Collective - a non-profit organization of musicians that promotes concerts and projects involving modern improvisational music - in 1992, at the age of 25, together with pianist Frank Kimbrough. One is reminded of the early years of Misha Mengelberg's Nederlandse Instant Composers Pool by the structure of the Jazz Composers Collective. However, there are also musical similarities, for the Jazz Composers Collective too plunges into the music of the under appreciated American pianist and composer Herbie Nichols. The ensemble recently released three albums for Blue Note with interpretations of Nichols' pieces for trio. In the present JCC-quintet the celebrated pianist's music is taken to a higher plane by new variations. For instance entire new horn sections have been written, since Nichols' recordings were always made with a trio.
