The Mandala Octet dedicates this, its third album, to Siri, a Thailand-born elephant housed at a zoo in Syracuse, New York. The record includes a 28-minute concerto-like piece, as well as four other charts written by bassist and leader John Leaman. Again Leaman borrows heavily from the personnel of the Either/Orchestra, using saxophonists Matt Langley, Charlie Kohlhase, and Doug Yates; trumpeter Tom Duprey; trombonist Curtis Hasselbring; pianist John Medeski; and drummer Gene Calderazzo. For the eight-part title track, the octet is joined by Billy Martin on tympani. The composition rivals Siri in its enormity, starting off with an introduction of glaring trumpet, slowly steaming tom-tom rhythms, and signal-calling percussion. The segments segue seamlessly from clarion horns to cool funk, with Siri speaking through Hasselbring's lyrical trombone and Kohlhase's rich baritone inflections. The piece is further adorned with lush horn charts, a little reggae strut from Medeski, a frantic piano-bass-drums portion, and Langley's wailing tenor. On the funky The Unknown Soldier, the group is augmented by Sam Pilafian (tuba), Chris Wood (electric bass guitar), Martin (tympani), and guitarists John Dirac and Dave Fiuczynski. A spooky groove chart and Hasselbring's great solo highlight La Vida Es Sueno. Over the course of its three recordings, the Mandala Octet has made some very challenging modern music in the jazz-based idiom. With luck, there's more on the horizon. ~ Michael G. Nastos, Rovi

1		Reconciliation
2		The Last Elephant, Pt. 1
3		The Last Elephant, Pt. 2
4		The Last Elephant, Pt. 3
5		The Last Elephant, Pt. 4
6		The Last Elephant, Pt. 5
7		The Last Elephant, Pt. 6
8		The Last Elephant, Pt. 7
9		The Last Elephant, Pt. 8
10		At Times in My Life! ?! ?!
11		La Vida Es un Sueño
12		The Unknown Soldier