Anthony Pirog celebrates the release of his latest album on Sunday at The Fridge.

One of the most singular voices in the local music community, guitarist Anthony Pirog is a relentlessly creative musician whose constant sense of exploration is illustrated by the breadth of his artistic output. Whether experimenting in Janel & Anthony with cellist Janel Leppin, his partner in music and life, playing surf rock with the El Rays, or playing as a sideman with a number of world class improvisers, he brings the full weight of his talent to bear.

Nowhere is his sonic alchemy more present than on Pirog’s latest gem of a recording, Palo Colorado Dream, whose official D.C. launch event takes place on Sunday at The Fridge. Issued by the venerable local label, Cuneiform Records, the album is Pirog’s first full-length release as a bandleader and also marks his first foray into the trio format.

“The pieces vary in style from track to track, so one of the challenges that I knew I’d have to confront was tying the record into a seamless whole that didn’t come off as a completely disjointed statement,” Pirog explained to DCist in a recent interview. “My idea was that my musical personality, the musical personalities of the musicians I was playing with, and the way the three of us performed together would be the answer to that concern.”

The album’s musical variability stems from the fact that these compositions were written over a ten-year period. “The Great Northern” evokes imagery of great American landscapes, while a locomotive groove provides the foundation for Pirog’s dystopian squeaks on “Threshold.” The range of sounds extends even further with the atonality of “Minimalist,” the odd-metered fusion of “Song in 5,” and the pastoral beauty that comes with “The New Electric.” Palo Colorado Dream is a journey, not just through Pirog’s own personal history, but also through a wide scope of moods and emotions.

“I just wait for ideas to present themselves when writing. Sometimes they just come to me and sometimes I really have to search for them,” Pirog said. “I just try to be open and try not to force things to happen and things usually unfold in a very natural way.”

His collaborators in this effort are bassist Michael Formanek and drummer Ches Smith, both formidable musicians. In the ’70s, while still in his teens, Formanek toured with jazz legends Tony Williams and Joe Henderson. The subsequent decade saw extended stints with the likes of the equally celebrated Stan Getz and Freddie Hubbard. Currently, Formanek records for the prestigious ECM label and is on the faculty at the Peabody Conservatory. Smith, who is based out of New York, performs regularly with pianist Craig Taborn and juggles numerous other projects. The three musicians had never played together as a trio before going into the studio to record Palo Colorado Dream.

“I was beyond excited and knew that the music was going to be in good hands,” Pirog said of his colleagues. “I also knew that I’d be able to focus on different approaches with them such as incorporating improvisations based on sound, in addition to the more traditional concepts or ways a trio works.”

Sunday’s performance also marks the start of a new endeavor for its main presenter, CapitalBop. While its excellent Jazz Loft series takes place at Union Arts, the upcoming show is the first Traveling Loft, which will occur quarterly at underground venues around the city.

DCist would also be remiss in not mentioning Sunday’s outstanding opening act. Saxophonist and D.C. native Brian Settles is every bit the discoverer that Pirog is, and he will be leading a trio featuring drummer Tomas Fujiwara and Jerry Gentry on vibraphone. Basically what we’re saying is that if you’re a fan of the local music scene and miss this show, you’ll be missing something special.

“Of course, music is meant to be shared with people so I can only hope that people feel a little of what I’m feeling while I’m performing in front of them,” Pirog said of Sunday’s concert. “I want the audience to like what I do, but when the show is over I’m going to go back home and work more on getting better and coming up with things that are appealing to me.”

The Anthony Pirog Trio will perform at The Fridge on Sunday, December 14, with the Brian Settles Trio opening. 7 p.m. doors. Tickets $10 in advance/$15 at the door.