Oceanos

David Binney and Edward Simon have appeared together on a number of earlier recordings, but this 2004 session for Criss Cross may very well be the best of the lot. Focusing exclusively on compelling original works for this release, the alto saxophonist and pianist are joined by a core group including bassist Scott Colley and drummer Brian Blade, with a number of other musicians augmenting the quartet on selected tracks. Binney's potent opener, "We Dream Oceans," is briskly paced with a Latin undercurrent, adding Luciana Souza's wordless vocals as an additional instrument. Simon's impressionistic ballad "Govinda" utilizes guitarist Adam Rogers' spacious solo and a haunting line sung by Souza. Colley contributed the quirky, effective "Amnesia," which, in spite of its title, proves to be quite memorable, with a catchy front line of alto sax, piano, and trumpeter Shane Endsley over the composer's challenging bassline. Highly recommended.