Criss Cross Jazz

David Binney - Bastion Of Sanity (2005) {Criss Cross Jazz CRISS1261CD rec 2004}
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© 2005 Criss Cross Jazz | CRISS 1261 CD
Jazz / Contemporary Jazz / Post Bop / Saxophone

Kicking things off with Wayne Shorter's "Lester Left Town," Bastion of Sanity might seem a decidedly mainstream affair. And, with a cover of Duke Ellington's "Heaven" halfway through the 77-minute set, that intuition might be right. With his quartet of 20-somethings—pianist Jacob Sacks, bassist Thomas Morgan and drummer Dan Weiss, augmented for this recording by long-time collaborator Chris Potter on tenor saxophone—alto saxophonist David Binney has been concentrating on honing a looser, more freely improvised group sound at his weekly Tuesday night sessions at the 55 Bar in New York's Greenwich Village for over a year-and-a-half.

Clifford Jordan - Two Tenor Winner (1985) {Criss Cross Jazz Criss1011CD rec 1984}
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© 1985 Criss Cross Jazz | Criss 1011 CD
Jazz / Hard Bop / Saxophone

Clifford Jordan and Junior Cook make for a perfectly compatible team on this 1984 CD. While assisted by pianist Kirk Lightsey, bassist Cecil McBee, and drummer Eddie Gladden, the very distinctive tenors inspire each other on originals, obscurities, Charles Davis' "Half and Half," and "Groovin' High." High-quality hard bop with a bit of competitiveness resulting in some fiery moments.

Peter Bernstein's second CD as a leader reunites him with pianist Brad Mehldau and once again features him in a quartet. However, both Bernstein and Mehldau had grown quite a bit as soloists during the previous two years (the pianist really tears into "Nobody Else but Me") and this time they are joined by the virtuosic bassist Christian McBride and drummer Gregory Hutchinson. In addition, the songs (five Bernstein originals and four standards) are stronger and challenge the soloists to play at their best. Among the highlights are "Jet Stream," "Jive Coffee" (Bernstein's sly revision of "Tea for Two"), "Will You Still Be Mine," and a tasteful "My Ideal" in addition to "Nobody Else but Me." An excellent effort.

For his second set as a leader, the focus is almost entirely on tenor saxophonist Ralph Moor, who switches to soprano on two of the six numbers. Accompanied by pianist David Kikoski, bassist Buster Williams and drummer Billy Hart, Moore performs group originals, Wayne Shorter's "Black Diamond" and Bud Powell's "Un Poco Loco." Displaying a tone on tenor similar to John Coltrane's, Moore's note choices are more original than his sound. A solid modern mainstream set.