Groundtruther is Charlie Hunter on guitar and Bobby Previte on drums plus one special guest on each of a three album project. The project, like many Thirsty Ear productions, is an exercise in expanding the definition of jazz. These recordings blend a wide variety of musical elements and influences from rock, hip-hop, funk, and a range of jazz genres.

The first of the three albums in the Groundtruther project, Latitude, features Greg Osby on sax. This is a mostly ethereal and atmospheric cd with most of the few groove moments provided by Previte's drum-machine triggered samples as opposed to the more conventional approach expected from Hunter. Longitude with DJ Logic sitting in, is more groove-laden and still very much "experimental," jazz. This time, Hunter trades in the lighter, funky guitar plucking for a grinding, almost Hendrix-like sound.

The third of the set, to be called Altitude, is supposed to be released this fall. I'm looking forward to exploring the heights.