Seamus-Chris Blake Cheek - Reeds Ramble - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

As a follow-up to Way Out Willy (CRC 1288), saxophonist Seamus Blake's latest features pianist David Kikoski, guitarist Lage Lund, bassist Matt Clohesy, and drummer Bill Stewart on another electrifying set of originals that sparkle with creativity and the kind of integrity that marks the best of today's current generation of jazz artists. Among a decidedly upbeat set of tunes, highlights further include some deeply moving statements from the saxophonist and Lund on the introspective the Song That Lives Inside. Rounding out the mix are takes on John Scofield's Dance Me Home and a third stream-inspired reworking of Debussy's String Quartet in G Minor, Opus 10.

Seamus Blake-ts & ss (Victor Lewis, Kevin Hays, Billy Drummond), Kurt Rosenwinkel-guitar, Kevin Hayes-piano, Larry Grenadier-bass, Bill Stewart-drums.

When asked about three of his signature orchestral works - the Grammy-winning Become Ocean, it's sequel Become Desert, and the original source Become River (previously unreleased as an official recording until now) - composer John Luther Adams refers to them collectively as Incha trilogy that I never set out to write.Inch Become River, composed for chamber orchestra, was the first of the three, although it began while Adams was working on Become Ocean for the Seattle Symphony. InchSteven Schick and I were having dinner together,Inch Adams recalls, Inchand I went on at length about the music I'd begun to imagine. 'So you're already composing a symphonic ocean,' Steve said. 'Maybe for a smaller orchestra you could go ahead and compose that river in delta.' He had me, and I knew it. Within a week I'd begun work on Become River.Inch Collected here for the first time, with newly remastered versions of Become Ocean and Become Desert by acclaimed engineer Nathaniel Reichman, The Become Trilogy pays tribute to a magical partnership between Adams, conductor Ludovic Morlot and the renowned Seattle Symphony. As a whole, the music speaks both to the meditative solace of solitude, and the universally shared experience of living, giving and interacting as a citizen of the world.