Branford Marsalis Music

The album is comprised completely of cover versions of the Nino Rota Classics (and those are anything but kitschy). I love the originals but I must say that I almost love these, for the most part, jazzy covers even more! The covers are much more moody, often slower and more melodic. This is an album to have!

For those of you thinking you'll get the origional scores from the Fellini movies, this isn't it. This is, however, an elegant modern take on Rota's compositions by talented contemporary jazz artists such as Bill Frisell, Jackie Byard and Dave Samuels. Brings the Italian Riviera to life, but not the Italian Riviera of Fellini's 1950's and 60's. Still, this is a nice addition to any jazz collection.

This is the best of Wilner's compliations. These jazz artists -- the best in the buinsess at the time (unfortunatley Bayard is no longer with us)-- obviously love the music, and the affection and respect are apparent in every track. It's a mixed bag illuminating the different faces of Rota from the jaunty circus themes to the lonliness of lost love. This is truly one of my favorite jazz records and it's also a great anthology of lesser-known great artists.

This is a great CD to listen to after a stressfull day at work. Debussy was an impressionist musician, or that's what they called him during his life. Most people don't know that there were impressionists that were not painters, so this classical musician is a breath of fresh air even for those that do not like classical music.

My mother was a classically trained musician. She was not only a highly accomplished violinist, but she was also an incredible pianist. When she was still in her earthly form, our house was always filled with music. If it wasn't her playing the violin or the piano, then we always had something on the Hi-Fi...hee hee...Hi-Fi...that sounded so high tech back then, now it just sounds like something you might get doing something unprotected...but anyway, I grew up around all kinds of music. We could be listening to Chopin one minute and the next, Frank Zappa and it's this kind of upbringing that made the weirdo...I mean, ecclectic individualization of Life I am today.

So, even though I continue to have varied tastes in music, I do have my favorites and one of them is dear 'ol Claude Debussy. My mother was a Pisces and I, being born exactly two weeks after her birthday, am also a Pisces and Pisceans, being rather dreamy, moody, sensitive, and open are "suckers" for any kind of music that touches the emotions because most
water signs live by their emotions rather than by their intellect. I happen to be a double Pisces which only means that I am jacked up x 2. Not really, but I am a very emotional person. I have, however, learned to use my sensitivity rather than having my sensitivity using me which only tends to make one fragile.

So, what the heck does all this have to do with this particular collection of music?

Plenty.

This music when played during periods of relaxation and meditation can open you up to the deeper levels of life that are always just right beneath the surface. So many of us are so distracted by outer appearances and conditions that we fail to see that all our outer life really is, is just a symbol...a metaphor...for what is going on inwardly. If your life is confusing, upsetting, chaotic it could be that your inner life is also confused, upset, and full of chaos.

Or maybe I'm just talking out my aspirations.

I invite you to wake up an hour early and listen to this CD while doing some light stretches, a few minutes of some just breathing deeply and slowly, and maybe even 15 minutes of so of just writing or doodling and don't let this music just be "white noise"...hey, I think I just created a name for my friend's rap band...but take this music deep into your soul...breathe it in...breathe it out...for just one hour "be" the music.

I think that Debussy was a genius. He didn't just compose music, music composed him. If you listen very, very carefully you will be able to tell that Debussy listened very closely to his soul. It was as if he asked a Heavenly Council for permission to use music that is clearly not of this world. Yes, his music is Impressionist, but it is also Expressionist; an expression of Pure Love, Pure Light, Pure Life the realms from which all things seen as well as unseen come forth from. Listen to Reverie, La Mer (all three portions), or, of course, Claire de Lune and you will quickly realize that this "mere mortal" tapped the eternal and the earthreal into finite compositions that transcend mere music and puts it in a completely different category.

So, after all this why am I giving this CD four stars...I have a real challenge with the name of the CD, Debussy's Greatest Hits. For God's sakes, this is Debussy, it's not Britney Spears or Barry Manillow. Debussy didn't create "hits", he created something that surpasses such a shallow judgment. His music is truly an observation of the Divine coming into form. The Divine does not create "Greatest Hits", the Divine only creates masterpieces and it's only our perceptions and our interpretations of these masterpieces that make it hit or miss. Which, of course has nothing to do with the Divine, but everything to do with us.

I urge you to buy this CD and let yourself dream again. Get out of your head and back into your heart. Even if you don't do the excercises I suggested; the breathing, the writing, the stretching, just allow this music to wash over you and heal you in ways you never thought possible.

Stretch forth and be the blessing you were created to be. Make this CD a prelude to your day and miracles will begin to happen.

I promise...

Peace & Blessings,
john, 'the Light Coach'

After listening to his "Greatest Hits," I know why he is considered one of the best.

Claude Debussy is perhaps the most understated composer in the history of man. His ability to compose both on the piano and for orchestra is unmatched, in my humble opinion. The fact that Debussy was able to also arrange many contemporary and previous composers' works just adds to his resume. He had a gift, pure and simple.

Although this album doesn't (well, honestly it couldn't) contain all the best of Debussy's catalog (you would need his entire catalog), it does certainly contain some of his best work. The entire CD is a beautifully aranged, beautifully played, well recorded compilation with good sound mixing and it is a respectful tribute to a truly great composer.

"Claire de Lune" (Moonlighting) is perhaps one of the most gorgeous pieces of music ever composed; this is the orchestrated version, but the piano version is nice if you get the chance to listen to it (I recommend the entire suite, Suite Bergamasque, for any piano lover, but I digress). "Arabesque No. 1" is superb. "Fetes" is both haunting and airy. "Reverie" is the best piano piece I have ever heard. "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair" is also a wonderful piano piece. "The Sunken Cathedral" is dark and mysterious, a true wonder.

The rest of the album is fantastic. Listed above are just my top, personal favorites from the disc. I listen to this CD at least once a week, but often more. It is perfect for relaxation, for listening while reading, or for my personal favorite use, to block out noise while I am writing.

I would recommend this to any classical lover. If you have not heard Debussy's music, you must get this CD; it will have you ordering more of his compositions almost immediately. The man was a genius.

I would also add that if you enjoy this, I recommend that you continue your Debussy experience with the following: Debussy: Orchestral Works I and Debussy: Orchestral Works II and if you are looking for works on piano, I recommend Jean-Yves Thibaudet-Debussy - Complete Piano Works, Vol. 1 and Jean-Yves Thibaudet-Debussy - Complete Piano Works, Vol. 2, and finally if you seek Chamber pieces, you can check out Debussy: Complete Chamber Music. All of these discs are excellent and I highly recommend each to grow your Debussy collection.

Enjoy!!!

I BOUGHT THIS BECAUSE I WAS TRYING EXPAND MY HORIZONS, YOU KNOW? CULTURALLY AND MENTALLY, YOU KNOW? SERIOUSLY THOUGH I WAS IN THE SHOP AND I WAS HAVING A GAZE AROUND THE PLACE AND THEN THIS PICTURE JUST JUMPS OUT AT ME, AND I PICKED IT UP AND IT WAS THIS DEBUSSY CHAP AND ID HEARD ABOUT HIM ON THE BBC LEARNING ZONE SO I THOUGHT ;why not?; SERIOUSLY THOUGH I DRAGGED IT HOME AND I POPPED IT IN THE OLD CD PLAYER AND IT FLOORED ME.......I MEAN SERIOUSLY THIS THING...AMAAZING STUFF..I MEAN TODAYS MUSIC HAS NOTHING, NOTHING NOTHING ON THIS STUFF RIGHT HERE.

SOME GOOD TRACKS ARE:
TRACK 1 IS THE BEST. THE OPENING FLUTE ON THE TRACK IS TOTALLY CHILLED AND COOL, REMINDS ME A BIT OF TRACK 13 ON ILL COMMUNICATION BY THE BEASTIE BOYS...A COINCIDENCE???

THE ONLY WEAK TRACK ON THE ALBUM IS TRACK 6, THE UNFORTUNATELY TITLED "CHILDRENS CORNER SUITE: GOLLIWOGGS CAKE WALK" THE MUSIC IS JUST DATED MAN, JUST AS DATED AS THE TITLE.

OVERALL THOUGH THIS IS A QUALITY ALBUM, WITH CHILLS, SPILLS AND THRILLS. SERIOUSLY THOUGH A FINE EFFORT.

Branford Marsalis is best known for his jazz work (and playing with Sting). My mother had this CD. I was mesmerized. I can't listen to it at work because I won't be able to concentrate on anything except his beautiful music. My mother lost her copy of the CD, so I had to purchase it and make it a treasured part of my collection.

If you don't already love the soprano sax, this should do it for you.

I think it is very admirable that Marsalis has attempted to produce a classical CD, however, this is not the sublime, masterpiece that so many previous reviewers have labelled it. His tone is particularly unstable, and not very even, his soprano playing is miles better than his alto however. This is a real shame, as the primary solo instrument in the saxophone family is the alto, anyone beginning study in classical saxophone would need to get this sorted first. His tuning is barely acceptable, but only for a jazzo, he would be shot if he played so out for a real saxophone teacher. Please have a listen to some real repertoire for saxophone, played by a real player, such as Bornkamp, Rousseau, Delangle, Fourmeau, Michat, Londeix, etc. This is a good INTRODUCTION to classical music, if for the first time, but please don't accept this as being the be all and end all of classical music, and of saxophone.

None of the works presented here precede the invention of the saxophone. Please look this up. You will find the saxophone invented around 1840, yes early romantic. And in addition, I believe many of the composers here used the saxophone at least once in their music. This is certainly true of Stravinsky, Debussy, Ravel and Villa-Lobos. (Villa-Lobos used the saxophone in at least 40 works!)

In my opinion, this is one of the best Classical CDs ever produced. I listen to it often and I am amazed at what an incredibly MUSICAL performance Branford Marsalis had. If you like saxaphone, I think you will love it. If you don't, I think you will still find it valuable because the technique, the phrasing are quintissential.

This is a great CD to listen to after a stressfull day at work. Debussy was an impressionist musician, or that's what they called him during his life. Most people don't know that there were impressionists that were not painters, so this classical musician is a breath of fresh air even for those that do not like classical music.

My mother was a classically trained musician. She was not only a highly accomplished violinist, but she was also an incredible pianist. When she was still in her earthly form, our house was always filled with music. If it wasn't her playing the violin or the piano, then we always had something on the Hi-Fi...hee hee...Hi-Fi...that sounded so high tech back then, now it just sounds like something you might get doing something unprotected...but anyway, I grew up around all kinds of music. We could be listening to Chopin one minute and the next, Frank Zappa and it's this kind of upbringing that made the weirdo...I mean, ecclectic individualization of Life I am today.

So, even though I continue to have varied tastes in music, I do have my favorites and one of them is dear 'ol Claude Debussy. My mother was a Pisces and I, being born exactly two weeks after her birthday, am also a Pisces and Pisceans, being rather dreamy, moody, sensitive, and open are "suckers" for any kind of music that touches the emotions because most
water signs live by their emotions rather than by their intellect. I happen to be a double Pisces which only means that I am jacked up x 2. Not really, but I am a very emotional person. I have, however, learned to use my sensitivity rather than having my sensitivity using me which only tends to make one fragile.

So, what the heck does all this have to do with this particular collection of music?

Plenty.

This music when played during periods of relaxation and meditation can open you up to the deeper levels of life that are always just right beneath the surface. So many of us are so distracted by outer appearances and conditions that we fail to see that all our outer life really is, is just a symbol...a metaphor...for what is going on inwardly. If your life is confusing, upsetting, chaotic it could be that your inner life is also confused, upset, and full of chaos.

Or maybe I'm just talking out my aspirations.

I invite you to wake up an hour early and listen to this CD while doing some light stretches, a few minutes of some just breathing deeply and slowly, and maybe even 15 minutes of so of just writing or doodling and don't let this music just be "white noise"...hey, I think I just created a name for my friend's rap band...but take this music deep into your soul...breathe it in...breathe it out...for just one hour "be" the music.

I think that Debussy was a genius. He didn't just compose music, music composed him. If you listen very, very carefully you will be able to tell that Debussy listened very closely to his soul. It was as if he asked a Heavenly Council for permission to use music that is clearly not of this world. Yes, his music is Impressionist, but it is also Expressionist; an expression of Pure Love, Pure Light, Pure Life the realms from which all things seen as well as unseen come forth from. Listen to Reverie, La Mer (all three portions), or, of course, Claire de Lune and you will quickly realize that this "mere mortal" tapped the eternal and the earthreal into finite compositions that transcend mere music and puts it in a completely different category.

So, after all this why am I giving this CD four stars...I have a real challenge with the name of the CD, Debussy's Greatest Hits. For God's sakes, this is Debussy, it's not Britney Spears or Barry Manillow. Debussy didn't create "hits", he created something that surpasses such a shallow judgment. His music is truly an observation of the Divine coming into form. The Divine does not create "Greatest Hits", the Divine only creates masterpieces and it's only our perceptions and our interpretations of these masterpieces that make it hit or miss. Which, of course has nothing to do with the Divine, but everything to do with us.

I urge you to buy this CD and let yourself dream again. Get out of your head and back into your heart. Even if you don't do the excercises I suggested; the breathing, the writing, the stretching, just allow this music to wash over you and heal you in ways you never thought possible.

Stretch forth and be the blessing you were created to be. Make this CD a prelude to your day and miracles will begin to happen.

I promise...

Peace & Blessings,
john, 'the Light Coach'

After listening to his "Greatest Hits," I know why he is considered one of the best.

Claude Debussy is perhaps the most understated composer in the history of man. His ability to compose both on the piano and for orchestra is unmatched, in my humble opinion. The fact that Debussy was able to also arrange many contemporary and previous composers' works just adds to his resume. He had a gift, pure and simple.

Although this album doesn't (well, honestly it couldn't) contain all the best of Debussy's catalog (you would need his entire catalog), it does certainly contain some of his best work. The entire CD is a beautifully aranged, beautifully played, well recorded compilation with good sound mixing and it is a respectful tribute to a truly great composer.

"Claire de Lune" (Moonlighting) is perhaps one of the most gorgeous pieces of music ever composed; this is the orchestrated version, but the piano version is nice if you get the chance to listen to it (I recommend the entire suite, Suite Bergamasque, for any piano lover, but I digress). "Arabesque No. 1" is superb. "Fetes" is both haunting and airy. "Reverie" is the best piano piece I have ever heard. "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair" is also a wonderful piano piece. "The Sunken Cathedral" is dark and mysterious, a true wonder.

The rest of the album is fantastic. Listed above are just my top, personal favorites from the disc. I listen to this CD at least once a week, but often more. It is perfect for relaxation, for listening while reading, or for my personal favorite use, to block out noise while I am writing.

I would recommend this to any classical lover. If you have not heard Debussy's music, you must get this CD; it will have you ordering more of his compositions almost immediately. The man was a genius.

I would also add that if you enjoy this, I recommend that you continue your Debussy experience with the following: Debussy: Orchestral Works I and Debussy: Orchestral Works II and if you are looking for works on piano, I recommend Jean-Yves Thibaudet-Debussy - Complete Piano Works, Vol. 1 and Jean-Yves Thibaudet-Debussy - Complete Piano Works, Vol. 2, and finally if you seek Chamber pieces, you can check out Debussy: Complete Chamber Music. All of these discs are excellent and I highly recommend each to grow your Debussy collection.

Enjoy!!!

I BOUGHT THIS BECAUSE I WAS TRYING EXPAND MY HORIZONS, YOU KNOW? CULTURALLY AND MENTALLY, YOU KNOW? SERIOUSLY THOUGH I WAS IN THE SHOP AND I WAS HAVING A GAZE AROUND THE PLACE AND THEN THIS PICTURE JUST JUMPS OUT AT ME, AND I PICKED IT UP AND IT WAS THIS DEBUSSY CHAP AND ID HEARD ABOUT HIM ON THE BBC LEARNING ZONE SO I THOUGHT ;why not?; SERIOUSLY THOUGH I DRAGGED IT HOME AND I POPPED IT IN THE OLD CD PLAYER AND IT FLOORED ME.......I MEAN SERIOUSLY THIS THING...AMAAZING STUFF..I MEAN TODAYS MUSIC HAS NOTHING, NOTHING NOTHING ON THIS STUFF RIGHT HERE.

SOME GOOD TRACKS ARE:
TRACK 1 IS THE BEST. THE OPENING FLUTE ON THE TRACK IS TOTALLY CHILLED AND COOL, REMINDS ME A BIT OF TRACK 13 ON ILL COMMUNICATION BY THE BEASTIE BOYS...A COINCIDENCE???

THE ONLY WEAK TRACK ON THE ALBUM IS TRACK 6, THE UNFORTUNATELY TITLED "CHILDRENS CORNER SUITE: GOLLIWOGGS CAKE WALK" THE MUSIC IS JUST DATED MAN, JUST AS DATED AS THE TITLE.

OVERALL THOUGH THIS IS A QUALITY ALBUM, WITH CHILLS, SPILLS AND THRILLS. SERIOUSLY THOUGH A FINE EFFORT.

Since this is a selection of works played by various orchestras, it's not really a comprehensive piece of work. But really, Ravel is not one of the "great" composers. Bolero is a fun piece and I enjoy it. For the rest, but for the dates of composition I would swear it was a movie soundtrack.

Listen to the genuis of Ravel on a clean sounding recording that you can enjoy time and time again without deterioration.Be advised the recording levels are not dampened so dinner guests and headset wearers will certainly be awokened especially at the end of Bolero.If you listen closely the music pages can be heard turning ,nice sense of being there ,get the cd they dont make em like this anymore.

I do not like Bolero. I have never liked Bolero. I don't think I will ever enjoy Bolero. I say this only to offer a reason for my lack of mention of that piece (beyond this, obviously). In fairness, Ravel at least once described Bolero as trivial, "a piece for orchestra without music". Fortunately, I did not let my feelings for Bolero sour my appreciation for the remaining works of Ravel.
Ravel was the master of transcriptions; reworking most of his works from piano to orchestra or vice-versa, which basically means that his output was virtually doubled because he wrote the majority of his pieces for orchestra and solo piano. He was a master of the French Impressionist era and an innovator in the move to modern 20th century classical composition.

Ravel's catalogue of work is astounding and his influence on composers that followed him, astounding. He began playing the piano a little later in life than some of the well known composers who were "prodigies" and playing before they could write. Ravel began playing the piano when he was 7 and, with his ability apparent, ended up at the Conservatoire de Paris where his art would be refined.
While at the Conservatoire, he composed [track 2] Pavane pour une infante defunte (Pavane for a dead Princess), a pavane being a processional dance played slowly. This piece was composed when Ravel studied under another of France's greatest composers, Gabriel Faure. The piece was written for piano as a tribute of sorts to the customs and rhythms of the Spanish, whom Ravel (along with other French greats) respected greatly. The piece is staggeringly beautiful and is, perhaps, my favorite by him. The version offered here is the orchestrated transcription by Ravel as published by Ravel 11 years after his original piano piece was composed.
Alborada del gracioso (The Comedian's Aubade) is, like Pavane, heavily influenced by Ravel's appreciation for the Spanish musical form. The gentle pluck of the strings at the opening of the piece is reminiscent of Spanish guitar and gently gives way to woods and brass that are light and airy, until there is a sudden flourish of woods, brass and percussion that is exhilarating. The piece is lovely and is, again, provided in the orchestrated version, rather than the original form as composed for piano as a piece of the work of 5 movements for piano called "Mirroirs" or Mirrors.
Rhapsodie Espagnol (get the feeling that Ravel loved the Spanish? Ravel's mother was Basque, Spanish, and heavily influenced the Frenchmen's work) was one of Ravel's first major works for orchestra. As with most of his works, this piece was written for piano; two actually, for four hands; but was transcribed for orchestra before its first performance. It consists of 4 short movements and the work as a whole is sweeping in its ability to move so gracefully from the somber to the uplifting.
Rigaudon comes from what began, again, as a work for Piano. In its original composition, Le Tombeau de Couperin was a suite for solo piano in six movements. Years later, Ravel would transcribe the work in to 4 movements for orchestra, this being the final movement. The orchestrated version of the suite is far more popular now and sees heavy rotation in the repertoires of Symphonies throughout the world. The sweeping movement is a dance that harkens back to the Baroque dance suites of old whilst still providing Ravel's signature innovative harmonies that relied on classical structures that were traditional, allowing him to mask his creativity.
La Valse (or La Valse, un poeme choreographique) is a tribute to the history, the rise, the pinnacle, and the fall of the waltz. Although truncated throughout with punctuated and harsh chords from the entire orchestra which, ironically, make it very difficult to be viewed as a waltz at all; though it is still particularly appealing in that it was bombastic in a way that Ravel rarely was. Interestingly, the piece was transcribed by Ravel for piano, but the orchestrated version remains the popular piece for performance.
Piece in the form of a Habanera is, again, a tribute to the music of Spain, a habanera being a rhythm like the tango. This is a short piece that focuses on strings and woods. It is haunting, airy and light with a feel of open space where there could be more music, but is not. It is minimal in a marvelous way.
The Mother Goose Suite was 5 pieces composed for piano duet for close friends. As the title implies, the pieces were written as tone poems to the tales of Ma Mere l'Oye. The Fairy Garden was the 5th piece from this suite. Ravel, as with most of his work, transcribed the piece for orchestra and created, in this piece 4 minutes of orchestral magic. It is a joy to hear.
Lever du Jour (daybreak); what a great title. This piece evokes the mental picture of a sunrise, birds and wildlife rising to a new day. This is a wonder. I don't know what else to say to describe it. The piece was composed for the ballet Daphnes et Chloe; the first piece from the second suite in a 3 suite ballet.
Pantomime, again from Daphnes et Chloe, again from the second suite, this being the 2nd piece, is much in keeping with the feel and theme of daybreak before it. It is a beautiful piece which evokes many possible pictures, but more importantly, showcases Ravel's gift for composition as the piece is widely regarded as one of his best.
General Dance closes the disc (the 3rd and final movement from the second suite of Daphnes et Chloe). It is much more animated in its use of the orchestra and the play between the instruments is both uplifting and disconcerting because it translates a feel of general uneasiness and, again, tends to border on a slight bombast, even adding a chorus toward the end of the piece.

The entire CD is performed, recorded and mixed beautifully. I have no complaints about this CD (except for the inclusion of Bolero, which I have attempted to justify above). Buy this disc with confidence. Unless you are looking for the piano works. This disc does not contain the piano works of Ravel; which I do highly recommend anyone out there reading this should definitely hear as well.
Enjoy!

Branford Marsalis is best known for his jazz work (and playing with Sting). My mother had this CD. I was mesmerized. I can't listen to it at work because I won't be able to concentrate on anything except his beautiful music. My mother lost her copy of the CD, so I had to purchase it and make it a treasured part of my collection.

If you don't already love the soprano sax, this should do it for you.

I think it is very admirable that Marsalis has attempted to produce a classical CD, however, this is not the sublime, masterpiece that so many previous reviewers have labelled it. His tone is particularly unstable, and not very even, his soprano playing is miles better than his alto however. This is a real shame, as the primary solo instrument in the saxophone family is the alto, anyone beginning study in classical saxophone would need to get this sorted first. His tuning is barely acceptable, but only for a jazzo, he would be shot if he played so out for a real saxophone teacher. Please have a listen to some real repertoire for saxophone, played by a real player, such as Bornkamp, Rousseau, Delangle, Fourmeau, Michat, Londeix, etc. This is a good INTRODUCTION to classical music, if for the first time, but please don't accept this as being the be all and end all of classical music, and of saxophone.

None of the works presented here precede the invention of the saxophone. Please look this up. You will find the saxophone invented around 1840, yes early romantic. And in addition, I believe many of the composers here used the saxophone at least once in their music. This is certainly true of Stravinsky, Debussy, Ravel and Villa-Lobos. (Villa-Lobos used the saxophone in at least 40 works!)

In my opinion, this is one of the best Classical CDs ever produced. I listen to it often and I am amazed at what an incredibly MUSICAL performance Branford Marsalis had. If you like saxaphone, I think you will love it. If you don't, I think you will still find it valuable because the technique, the phrasing are quintissential.

This is Branford at his very best! Starting with the spectacular "Roused About" this album spreads its wings, like the bird on the cover, and FLIES! Needless to say, this is a MUST-HAVE for those who love JAZZ in particular and JAZZ TRIOS in particular. GET IT!!

To intend qualify the level of creative effervescence and sumptuous expression that labels and features this album from start to finish, I should submit as sublime. This is a reference album that must be included in your collection. The genial outburst of Brandford Marsalis overcomes all the best praises I might find.

Artistic inspiration, musical freshness and extraordinary mastery are enough motives that plainly justify your inversion, Don't miss it!

While lolli-pop music is down on her knees lapping up the putrefaction from the Viper Room floor, there's a snapping subpopular crackle coming down from the shadier side of Sunset. 'The Beautyful Ones' is appropriately quick, clean & untitivated jazz, and by that very first pitch of Charlie's Rousted About, you will call it coarse music made only for crazy people, or you will call it crazy people music make just for me.

Hope may float, and Hope may spring, but only true love can surf through a wedding ring.

This album is a sampler platter of post-bop musical styles, and Branford, Tain, and Robert Hurst pull each approach off beautifully. The highlight for me is the title track, a gorgeous, mournful, Coltrane-inspired meditation. The playing on this record is, of course, phenomenal. If you like this album, check out their live renditions of these tunes on "Bloomington". Amazing.

Although one cannot deny it is a top-notch music-making, this recording might be too abstract for some people's taste. The compositions are harmonically free and rhythmically loose reminding me of late Coltrane. I just wish there were a few tracks that are more straightforward or emotionally loaded.