This double CD contains
Wynton Marsalis' score for the modern ballet Griot New York. Even more than his trumpet playing, his writing skills had developed quickly during the five years prior to this set.
Marsalis' superb septet (including trombonist
Wycliffe Gordon, altoist
Wes Anderson,
Todd Williams on tenor and soprano, pianist
Eric Reed, bassist
Reginald Veal, and drummer
Herlin Riley) performs the complex and consistently colorful music, which goes through a wide variety of styles (including New Orleans jazz, swing, bop, modal music, and even some sections bordering on the avant-garde). The results are unpredictable, exciting, and quite enjoyable. This is one of
Wynton Marsalis' finest recordings to date.