This was to be my last recording for Hiroshi Itsuno and Polydor K.K. of Japan. Hiroshi felt it best that I return to the Eyewitness format, but that perhaps I might add a horn. So, it didn't take long to suggest and agree upon my old and dear friend, Michael Brecker. The material, though still fundamentally a selection of "odd-ball" standards from the mid-'60s, would have a decided Latin flavor to it and everything was geared to that direction. One of the nicest additional elements was the presence of engineer James Farber, another good friend, who lent his very special talents and sound design ideas to make this, perhaps, my favorite sounding recording. As an audio nut, even
I
have to say, the sound of this recording is awesome! If
I were forced to single out one moment, it would be the
'fade' of "I Love Paris" where we fall into a 'free' montuno(of
sorts) and as I hold down the harmonic 'center,' Anthony
explores some of the most fantastic places. Places which
it seems only he hears....and, at moments like that too!
While I'm playing a simple Cm7 chord, one can hear lots
of Dbs and B-naturals in the bass, not exactly what one
would expect! The group interplay on Monk's "Think of One"
is very special to me, as is our performance of my father's
tune, "It's You or No One." Again, it's a testament to the
subtlety Dennis Chambers is capable of, his brushwork is
stupendous! Manolo's spatial sounds in the 'fade' reminded
us instantly of the earlier Eyewitness recordings, and smiles
appeared all around! Obviously, all three Michael Brecker
solos are tremendous, that goes without saying. On balance,
this is one our best recordings. I used to get asked all
the time by young musicians, "What are the 'changes' to
some of the Eyewitness tunes?" I was always a little embarrassed
to say, "well, there really aren't any! I could tell you
where we 'start'(the jumping-off point), and I could tell
you the 'cue' that will bring us to the next composed section,
but that's about all there is." Though I can't recall just
which one of my heroes said this, I remember reading the
following, "If you can take a 'free' piece of music and
make it sound like there are changes; and if you can take
a 'standard' and make it sound like it's a 'free' piece
of music, then perhaps you have something great going on!"
"CROSSINGS" demonstrates that this group can take
music with traditional forms and changes and apply the same
"group-think" to achieve equally satisfying results. I'm
very proud that I was one part of this group.
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[1] Descarga Khanalonious(Steve Khan)(8:22) [2] Think of One(Thelonious Monk)(5:31) [3] What I'm Said(Steve Khan)(8:32) [4] Pee Wee(Tony Williams)(4:52) [5] It's You or No One(Sammy Cahn-Jule Styne)(7:57) [6] I Love Paris(Cole Porter)(6:29) [7] Capricorn(Wayne Shorter)(6:17) [8] Melancholee(Lee Morgan)(8:13) [9] Inner Urge(Joe Henderson)(6:09) [10] While My Lady Sleeps(Bronislau Kaper-Gus Kahn)(6:24) |
Graphic: Anthony Jackson, Dennis Chambers & Steve from a special European Tour Poster - by Ned Shaw
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