Part of a series of re-releases of Impulse artists to celebrate the venerable jazz label's 45th anniversary, this Keith Jarrett best-of collects material like "De Drums" from the pianist's FORT YAHWUH album, as well as the lyrical "Introduction and Yaqui Folk Song" from TREASURE ISLAND and "Konya" from BYABLUE. The selection provides an ideal opportunity to sample this innovative musician's often eccentric but never dull performances, both in the studio and live.

The members of the Ray Brown Trio (the bassist-leader, pianist Gene Harris and drummer Jeff Hamilton) all grew to love the playing of tenor-saxophonist Ralph Moore when the four were traveling as members of Gene Harris' big band. On this Ray Brown CD, the veteran bassist virtually turned over the entire session to Moore.

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Geechee Recollections was the first in a trilogy of recordings by saxophonist Marion Brown that both honored the work of poet Jean Toomer and revisited his upbringing in Georgia. Together, they form arguably the most beautiful and satisfying output of Brown's lengthy career. The music, while remaining experimental, is grounded in Southern folk themes and blues, epitomized on tracks like the funky "Buttermilk Bottom" here. [...] Brown, with his marvelously limpid tone on alto, is a joy to hear and seems more at home and relaxed here than on some of his more strident early records. Recommended. ~Brian Olewnick, Rovi

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"What happens if a jazz trumpeter (Thomas Burhorn) and hip hop producer (Michael Paetz aka Der Algorhythmiker) come together to make an album - jazzy trip hop with an eye for details, the warm sound of real instruments and the nostalgic crackle of long forgotten samples. The idea to fuse jazz with different styles isn’t new, yet The Burhorn create an independent, contemporary sound which convinces through its’ authenticity. Jazz listeners who want to hear strong bass drum and hip hop fans, who can differ a bass clarinet from a hookah will be more than satisfied."

EDDIE HIGGINS began playing the piano at age 4. His mother was a classical pianist, his father an educator at Andover Prep. From age six to fourteen, Eddie had a professional piano teacher. When he was fourteen, he heard a neighbor playing Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker records. From then on he was inspired to play jazz. Eddie attended Andover Prep and then Northwestern University.

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Buenos Aires, Argentina has often been described as "the most European city in Latin America" (with Montevideo, Uruguay running a close second). So considering that tango originated in such a Europe-influenced city, it isn't surprising that it made its way across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe -- which has some fine tango groups. One of them is Quadro Nuevo, a Germany-based outfit that has been combining tango with a variety of European influences. Of course, tango had European influences to begin with, but with Quadro Nuevo, that passion for different types of European music is even more evident and even more overt.

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