Downbeat Magazine
May 2007

Neal Miner / Photos in Black, White and Gray
***-1/2

Chris Byars puts a premium on absorbing jazz history but never lets his sense of tradition get in the way of attaining a modern sound. Rather than using his working octet for this date, the saxophonist led a quartet through eight original compositions, all of which end up sounding timeless. Byars is impressive on alto, tenor, and soprano saxophones, and his empathy for underappreciated soloists like Lucky Thompson and Gigi Gryce reveals a harmonic sophistication and a unique sense of time. The rhythm section is flexible, with pianist Sacha Perry, bassist Ari Roland and drummer Andy Watson providing a crisp, swinging foundation.

On "Milton," Perry's piano solo is Thelonious Monk-inspired, and Roland's work with the bow is energetic without being excessive. Watson drives the band with a light economic touch, and Byars' own solos are as logical as they are passionate. The tunes are around six or seven minutes long each, providing plenty of room for the band to stretch out.

-- Mitch Myers