ALBUM REVIEWS : *** MARTY FOGEL “Many Bobbing Heads, at Last . . . “ <i> CMP</i> :<i> Albums are rated from one star (poor) to five stars (a classic). </i>

Fogel, a veteran of the fusion-styled Everyman Band, makes his first outing as bandleader with a collection of edgily eclectic, cutting-edge jazz pieces. Fogel’s tenor saxophone ranges stylistically from Sonny Rollins to Archie Shepp, tempered with his own odd blend of lyricism and hypertension. Among the best performances are a surging tour through Don Cherry’s “Guinea” and Fogel’s rocking “Owasco.” Guitarist David Torn--also a former member of the Everyman Band--bassist Dean Johnson and drummer Michael Shrieve bring a powerful sense of ensemble unity to four far-ranging group improvisations. While not always as well-focused as it might be, “Many Bobbing Heads . . . “ provides a useful window on developmental activities taking place in jazz’s outer limits.