Polar Park

Polar Bear, a British quartet with two tenor saxophonists plus bass and drums, was one of the most striking ensembles to emerge on the home circuit in 2003. Unlike so many hurtling, high-energy postbop bands, its approach was distinctive, based on the murmuring conversations of the two horns and the ability of bassist Tom Herbert and the superb drummer Seb Rochford to weave their contributions into the sound of the ensemble's evolving melody…

On December 2, 1999, a polar bear named Peace was born at Japan's Tobe Zoological Park in Ehime Prefecture. After his mother rejected the cub, zookeeper Atsuhiro Takaichi took on the task of childrearing and subsequently succeeded in handraising a polar bear for the first time ever in Japan and the third time in the world. This program chronicles five years in the life of the young cub and the caring zookeeper from the critical time after Peace was born to the arrival of summer and the cub's first swimming lesson. As efforts continue toward bringing up Peace, we witness an unbreakable bond of mutual affection and trust.

Most concerts in Central Park are an event, and Sheryl Crow designed hers to be an event with a capital "E," performing duets with Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Stevie Nicks, Chrissie Hynde, Sarah McLachlan, and the Dixie Chicks. Such a combination of superstar power and prestigious venue should have generated sparks, and perhaps it did in person, but as the record Sheryl Crow and Friends: Live in Central Park, it falls surprisingly flat. The set list is fine, boasting all the hits, good selections from The Globe Sessions, and several crowd-pleasing covers.