Along with his activities as first-generation young lion jazz trump
et dude, Terence Blanchard is the composer of choice for Spike Lee's films. This marvelously cohesive album finds Blanchard and an incredible band including his old running partner Donald Harrison, Joe Henderson and the late Kenny Kirkland exploring such jazzy movie themes as "Chinatown," "Taxi Driver" and "A Streetcar Named Desire."Joanne Brackeen: "Pink Elephant Magic"
Pianist Joanne Brackeen has been floating around the jazz scene for decades : she's one of those solid middleweights who just keeps going and going. Who'd 'a' thunk she'd come up with a masterpiece? A great band including Nicholas Payton, Chris Potter, Dave Liebman and Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez sashays through a witty and swinging set of tunes that hold to no style but the pursuance of pleasure.
Dewey Redman/Cecil Taylor/Elvin Jones: "Momentum Space"
It's amazing that none of these three old firebrands had ever worked together before. It's more amazing that they worked together now. Cecil Taylor, one of jazz's great lone wolves, rarely steps outside his own insular world. What they've created is magic bursting with ideas and energy and that old avant-garde growl. A bunch of duets and one heart-stopping mass thrash.
Sam Rivers: "Inspiration"
Wonders never cease. The old avant-garde lion Sam Rivers not only gets signed to a major label, THE ALBUM GETS NOMINATED FOR A GRAMMY! The densest big band writing you'll ever hear, it's plotted to within an inch of its life and played by a ridiculously capable band (Steve Coleman, Greg Osby, Chico Freeman, Gary Thomas and Hamiet Bluiett make up the sax section alone!).
David Sanborn: "Inside"
A sneaky, groove-filled, quiet little album from a man whose very name — that mane of hair and the
great cry of a sound — conjures up excess. Producer Marcus Miller has cooked up an entrancing sound, sort of house music for staying inside your house. Sting, Cassandra Wilson, Michael Brecker, Bill Frisell and Gil Goldstein all drop by.
Honorable Mentions:
Ginger Baker: "Coward of the County"
Paul Bley/Gary Peacock/Paul Motian: "Not Two, Not One"
Oscar Peterson/Milt Jackson/Ray Brown: "Very Tall Reunion Band
Sam Rivers/Alex Von Schlippenbach: "Tangens" Caetano Veloso: "Omaggio a Frederico e Giulietta"