David Binney - Barefooted Town - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Lifted Land, David Binney's sixth recording for Criss Cross, is also his third wholly original program for the tag (after Cities and Desire (CRC 1285) and Barefooted Town (CRC 1325). One of the most gripping and distinctive alto players and composers of his generation, Binney leads a powerfully expressive quartet with longtime allies Craig Taborn on piano and Eivind Opsvik on bass. Drummer Tyshawn Sorey, an acclaimed leader and composer in his own right, makes his first Criss Cross appearance here, in place of Binney's go-to drummer for previous releases, Dan Weiss.

For his fourth Criss Cross leader date, alto saxophonist-composer David Binney convenes his primary New York working quartet of the 2000's (pianist Jacob Sacks, bassist Eivind Opsvik, and drummer Dan Weiss), adds to the mix guitar hero Wayne Krantz, with whom he works frequently in an electronica-oriented group, and augments the proceedings with several appearances by British pianist-composer John Escreet, a frequent partner in recent years. The leader plays with deep emotion and the concision of an old master; it's as strong a date as any in Binney's now sizable discography.

For his Criss Cross debut, alto saxophonist David Binney, known for his episodic, long-form recordings, presents a memorable straight-ahead recital. Addressing nine Binney originals and an original apiece by Duke Ellington and Wayne Shorter, Binney and tenor star Chris Potter, backed by Binney's regular rhythm section, pianist Jacob Sacks, bassist Thomas Morgan, and drummer Dan Weiss, uncork a series of heated, lucid solos and achieve a one-instrument sound on the unisons.