“Dean Magraw comes out roaring right from the opening notes of John Coltrane’s “Africa,” and his playing is white hot throughout. Even the trio’s quiet numbers have a palpable intensity to them. “We are inspired by the spiritual searchings of John Coltrane,” Magraw states. No wonder.

Magraw has the perfect co-conspirators in bassist Chris Bates and drummer Jay Epstein, jazz all-pros with rock pasts. They know their Coltrane and Parker, as well as their Hendrix and Led Zep. Red Planet is very much a cooperative trio. Bassist Bates contributes two of his strongest original tunes to “Space Dust” — “What My Thought Is” and the lovely vignette “Rarefaction.” And while Magraw gets top billing, the CD is just as much Epstein’s showcase. His mastery of the cymbals is in full flower — he gets more tone color from his mounted metal than any drummer in town.” -Tom Surowicz, StarTribune