Time Never Pauses

Guitarist Hans Luchs, a fixture on the Chicago jazz scene since 2007, makes his recording debut as a leader on Time Never Pauses. He utilizes a quintet of local musicians to perform eight of his originals, plus the songs "Come Sunday" and "Get Out Of Town."

Luchs' compositions are more notable for their original and often-stimulating chord changes than for having any memorable melodies. But their structures inspire inventive solos from pianist Stu Mindeman, trumpeter Shaun Johnson and Luchs himself. Very much a team player, the cool-toned guitarist does not dominate the music and instead shares the spotlight with his sidemen. "Der Lumenmeister" (a tribute to his father, who was often in charge of the lighting at performances) starts with a mysterious mood before Luchs plays fairly free over the fiery rhythms and Mindeman takes a percussive solo. "Elizabeth" is a thoughtful and lyrical medium-tempo piece, while "Green DeLuchs" swings hard. Trumpeter Johnson's solos here and elsewhere are mellow even when the music is at its most heated.

Time Never Pauses serves as a solid start to Luch's recording career.