Oceanos by David Binney, Edward Simon

Each a Criss Cross leader, pianist Edward Simon < The Process (Criss 1229) and Simplicitas (Criss 1267) > and alto saxophonist David Binney < Bastion of Sanity (Criss 1261) and Cities and Desire (Criss 1285) >, who have worked together on numerous projects since 1989, present their first collaborative effort for the label, comprising eight emotion-packed, rhythmically vibrant tunes by Binney, Simon, and bassist Scott Colley.

Propelled by the extraordinarily nuanced, intuitive playing of Colley and drummer Brian Blade, the instrument-like voice of Luciana Souza, and tonal color from guitarist Adam Rogers and brassmen Shane Endsley, Jesse Newman and Alan Ferber, plus percussionist Pernell Saturnino, the co-leaders solo with rigorous compositional sensibility that only serves to highlight the deep soulfulness and virtuosic chops that make them major forces in 21st century jazz

Criss Cross Records captures the aesthetic essence of cutting-edge hardcore New York jazz more consistently than any other label on 420+ albums recorded.. Founder Gerry Teekens (1935-2019), a linguistics professor by day and a semi-professional drummer by night, was a connoisseur of groove -- he operated by the motto, “If you have a great band, but not a great drummer, forget it.”

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