For several decades now, Chiaroscuro Records has been a label committed to individual projects by some of traditional jazz's top names, like
Lou Donaldson,
Gerry Mulligan, and alto saxophonist
Phil Woods.
Woods is from the old guard, but adds speedy, tremendously creative improvisations and solos to this free-for-all jam helmed by pianist
Jesse Green, one of the label's younger artists and an inventive genius of his own.
Green's core trio of bassist Frank Hauch and drummer
Bruce Cox is surrounded by other legends -- including flügelhornist Patrick Doran, who adds sly, swinging brass energy to "PorpDog" with
Woods,
Dave Liebman, and
Chris Potter. The breakneck pace of "Extreme Sporting" (about
Green's passion for skateboarding) is balanced by more graceful romantic gestures like "Waltz for Corinne."
Jerry Harris chimes with a class-act vocal on "I've Got You Under My Skin," his voice enhanced harmonically by
Green's jumpy ivories and
Woods' peppy improv. ~ Jonathan Widran