The 39 Steps (2008)

The 10,000 Steps is an atmospheric soundscape of exquisitely crafted ambiance, from singer Lisbeth Scott (The Chronicles of Narnia and Spielberg's Munich) and multi-instrumentalist Greg Ellis (Vas, Matrix series and 300). Biomusique's first effort, The 10,000 Steps, is a poly-fused hybrid of many styles that range from textured electronic ambience to atmospheric riffs on Celtic sound-stylings. The results are breathtaking. Lisbeth Scott's vocals resemble the non-local phrasings of Liz Fraser and Lisa Gerrard, toning, intoning, chanting and singing, blending and bending a fluid vocabulary of vocalese. While Ellis moves surprisingly well out of his percussive comfort zone to play a number of other instruments such as trumpet, guitar, dulcimer, piano and, of course, a battery of drums and percussion. Together, they make deliciously organic sounds that echo David Sylvain, Enya, Clannad and Loreena McKennit…

In the summer of 1999, Steps Ahead founder/vibraphonist Mike Mainieri joined Eliane Elias, Bob Berg, Marc Johnson and Peter Erskine for a reunion tour of Europe. They recorded several of those shows but Mainieri didn’t listen to the tapes for two years. He eventually did, and the result is the two-CD set Holding Together (N.Y.C.). The musicians perform the tunes with great sensitivity to one another, both as an ensemble and in solo spotlights. “Uncle Bob” just swings along, while Mainieri’s gliding vibes impart an almost magical quality to a lovely version of Ellington’s “In a Sentimental Mood,” and “The Time Is Now” is a 22-minute-plus opus that gives everyone a chance to shine. There are too many high points on this solid set to mention, but it should be noted that Berg’s playing is vigorous and inventive throughout and provides a poignant reminder of the profound loss the jazz world suffered when he was killed in a car accident.

On his first several albums beginning in the mid-'90s, trumpeter Nicholas Payton appeared intent on establishing the range of his New Orleans influences, whether Wynton Marsalis or Louis Armstrong, to whom Payton paid tribute on 2001's Dear Louis. Then, on 2003's Sonic Trance, Payton threw a curve by diving headfirst into the world of late-'60s/early-'70s Miles Davis, complete with funky wah-wahs and sprawling electric keyboards. Into the Blue is another turnabout, and a welcome one: on this set of mostly original compositions, a pensive, largely laid-back Payton truly comes into his own. The ten tunes, recorded in New Orleans, offer a variety of moods, from melancholy to jubilant, an elegance permeating all of the performances…

For those keeping score, Universal's 2008 Deluxe Edition of This Year's Model is the third expanded reissue of Elvis Costello's classic 1978 album. Like its 2002 predecessor from Rhino, Universal's expanded edition is a double-disc set, sharing many, but not all, of the same bonus material from that previously released package. Rhino shuffled off all the bonus tracks to a separate second disc running 12 tracks, whereas Universal adds ten tracks to the 13-track album on the first disc, then presents a full concert – recorded on February 28, 1978, at the Warner Theater in Washington, D.C. – on the second disc. Of those 12 tracks from the 2002 edition, three of them have been excised – excellent Capital Radio versions of "You Belong to Me" and "Radio, Radio" plus a BBC version of "Stranger in the House" – while "Tiny Steps," which was included on the 2002 Rhino expansion of Armed Forces, was added.