Taking it therefore at face value, there is much to admire, rhythmically and harmonically, even as one struggles to apprehend its specific import. All of the music is original, with five compositions and arrangements by percussionist / co-leader Abraham Gomez-Delgado, four by trumpeter / co-leader Taylor Ho Bynum, "Stillness / Life" by saxophonist Matt Bauder. All were recorded in-studio save Bynum's "Travels Part 4," which gladdened an appreciative audience. Stylistically, Gomez-Delgado's charts are more rhythmic and accessible, Bynum's on the whole more overdrawn and cerebral. A reasonable benchmark would be Charles Mingus.

"Travels," whose Parts 1-4 consume more than twenty minutes of the album's playing time, is dedicated to the late Sun Ra, and there are vocals (of a sort) by Jen Shyu who also plays erhu, a Chinese cousin of the violin. Shyu (who wrote the lyrics) also sings (quite well) on "Stillness / Life" and with Gomez-Delgado on his robust finale, "Contenido Adentro." Bynum contributes a couple of snappy solos, as does trombonist Reut Regev on a hybrid called the flugelbone, while baritone Michael Attias is a standout on Bynum's shuffling "Post Chordal." The rhythm section (Gomez-Delgado, guitarist Pete Fitzpatrick, bassists Alvaro Benavides or Keith Witty, drummer Tomas Fujiwara) makes the best of an arduous assignment.

Those who relish the avant-garde should find Garabatos especially enjoyable, and may eagerly look forward to Volume 2, while those who prefer a more customary jazz framework will more than likely find considerably less to applaud.

Tracks and Personnel

Legendary

Tracks: Take the "A" Train; I'm All Smiles; Suicide Is Painless; Fluffy; Geezerhood; Limited Edition Express; Luci; You Must Believe in Spring; Auld Lang Syne.

Personnel: Carl Saunders, Pete DeSiena, Steve Huffsteter, Ron Stout, Larry Lunetta: trumpet; Don Shelton, Kim Richmond, Tom Peterson, Jeff Driskill, Bob Efford, Bob Carr, Rusty Higgins (6, 9): woodwinds; Alex Iles (3-6, 9), Bob McChesney, Scott Whitfield, Dave Ryan, Jacques Voyemant (1, 2, 7, 8): trombone; Craig Ware: bass trombone; Larry Koonse: guitar; Alan Broadbent: piano; Trey Henry: bass; Peter Erskine: drums.

I'm BeBoppin' Too

Tracks: I'm BeBoppin' Too; Cool Breeze; 'Round Midnight; Manteca; Birks' Works; If You Could See Me Now; Dizzy's Blues; Una Mas; I Can't Get Started; One Bass Hit; Tin Tin Deo; Lover Come Back to Me.

Personnel: Slide Hampton: music director; Frank Greene, Greg Gisbert, Claudio Roditi: trumpet; Roy Hargrove: trumpet, vocal (1); Antonio Hart, Mark Gross: alto sax, flute; James Moody: tenor sax, flute, vocal (2); Jimmy Heath: tenor sax; Jason Jackson, Steve Davis, Michael Dease: trombone; Douglas Purviance: bass trombone; Yotam Silberstein: guitar; Cyrus Chestnut: piano; John Lee: bass; Lewis Nash: drums; Roberta Gambarini: vocals.

The Other One

Tracks: I'll Take Romance; Satisfaction Guaranteed; Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive; Lonely Tears; Time After Time; Father's Day; The Other One; Georgia on My Mind; Take the "A" Train; Too Nice; Stella by Starlight; Riley's Thang; Memorial Day; Latin Reaction.

Personnel: Dana Legg: leader, trombone; Bill Calkins (2, 6-8, 10, 11, 14), Mike Stewart (1, 3-5, 9, 12, 13), Doug Schuler, Randy Karon (4-12), Terry Guynes, Ivo Braun, Marvin Davis (2, 14), Kenny Dixon (1, 3, 13): trumpet; Gary Parker: alto sax, flute; Mark Fechner, alto, baritone sax, flute; Mark Tuttle: tenor, soprano sax, flute; John Kutten: tenor sax; Mark Grudzinski: baritone, alto sax, piccolo; Dave Gross, Henry Salgado (2, 6-8, 10, 11, 14), Loren Binford (1, 3-5, 9, 12, 13), Dana Solt (1-3, 6-8, 10, 11, 13, 14), Bill Gilardon (4, 5, 9, 12), Stan Meade: trombone; Ron Mills (2, 6-8, 10, 11, 14), Mark Burnell (4, 5, 9, 12), Lou Cucunato (1, 3, 13): piano; Robert Burks (1, 3-5, 9, 12, 13), Brad Ard (2, 6-8, 10, 11, 14): guitar; Mark Sorlie: acoustic, electric bass; Debbie Katz-Knowles (1-3, 6-8, 10, 11, 13, 14), Bob Rummage (4, 5, 9, 12): drums; Colette Hazek (3): vocal. Guest artists—Mark Colby (4, 9, 12): tenor sax; Bob Centano (2): baritone sax.

West of State Street / East of Harlem

Tracks: Flight of the Foo Birds; Groovin' Hard; How Sweet It Is; Randy Sandke Introduction; A Night in Tunisia; Anytime, Anyday, Anywhere; Struttin' with Some Barbecue; Ten Cents a Dance; One O'Clock Jump; Hello Dolly; Little Jazz Boogie; Witchcraft; How Long Has This Been Going On; Sweet Georgia Brown; Begin the Beguine; April in Paris; Love for Sale.

Personnel: John Burnett: leader; Randy Sandke, Terry Connell, Mike McGrath, Greg Duncan: trumpet; Tony Pons: trumpet, vocal (10); Bob Frankich, Nick Mazarella: alto sax; Doug Stone, Anthony Bruno: tenor sax; Bruce Mack: baritone sax; Bryant Scott, Adam Gross, Dana Legg: trombone; Bill Walsh: bass trombone; Mark Burnell: piano; John Moran: guitar; Paul Martin: bass; Bill Byan: drums; Frieda Lee (6, 8): vocals.

Muse

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