" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Patterson's quintet is (or was) also a member of the U.S. Air Force's flagship jazz ensemble, the Airmen of Note. On Push the Limits, Patterson challenges his fellow airmen to cruise through ten of his elaborate compositions and arrangements, a mission they carry out with what seems to be relative ease. In other words, the technical excellence of the group is undeniable.

As for Push the Limits, what we have, although it surely wasn't planned that way, is essentially a tale of two albums, divided roughly in half. Patterson is a talented writer who for reasons unknown sets sail on an unusually tenuous footing, see- sawing through the opening five numbers—the highs barely outpacing the lows—before landing in a more accessible groove on "Suits Me Fine," a loping blues wherein everyone sounds calm, cool and at ease. "Almost There," which follows, is a rhythmically solid essay that benefits from a handsome solo by Patterson and typically splendid support from the rhythm section before guitarist