{$Air}, the {\improvisational} collective of {$Henry Threadgill} on reeds, woodwinds, and lots of other stuff, bassist {$Fred Hopkins}, and drummer/percussionist {$Steve McCall}, was the first major group after {$the Art Ensemble} to come out of Chicago. The feel of {$Air}'s sound is one where the collective improvises and creates without an individual soloist or group leader anchoring the proceedings. On the first two recordings, this debut outing in particular, this concept worked well. There are four long pieces here, all of them based on minimal themes with variations entering into the fray simultaneously and opening the door to a free for all that pays attention to both dynamics and texture. The interplay between the three members is almost always inventive, engaging, and full of warmth and humor. There is little excessive indulgence to be found on these {\improvisations}, and the degree of musicianship with these men is off the chart. Communication in the new {\jazz} often amounted to little more than cats trying to make one another louder. {$Air} proved that the signal of development is in the listening and expressing oneself based on what has been played as a soloist and as part of the whole. A lovely and auspicious debut. ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide