Description:

Saxophonist Chris Potter, one of the key figures in the contemporary jazz scene, has painstakingly arrived at a perfect fusion of jazz and orchestral sounds in his second ECM leader. With members of the underground quartet of Adam Rogers, Craig Tayborne, and Nate Smith, two bassists, a string quartet, and Steve Nelson (vibes, marimba), who has been with the Dave Holland Quintet since the days of the quartet, this is the second release from the ECM leader, a perfect fusion of jazz and orchestral sounds that Chris Potter has struggled to achieve. The panoramic suite unfolds as a larger ensemble. The work's breadth, contrasting moods and thematic developments inspire Potter's playing, and his saxophone soars even higher above the idealized city. Dialogues and group improvisations with the talented residents further expand the worldview. (C)RS