Buster Williams

[montg]

Gave this one a quick spin today and a big Some nice compositions, interesting chords underneath from George Colligan (the ubiquitous Colligan--he seems to be a sideman on a lot of new releases). Stefon Harris and Lenny White round out the quartet. This has a real poetic feel---the imagery of some of the titles gives an idea of it's about. Steller sound from RVG. ANother winner from Joe Fields' HighNote label.

Griot Liberte (Hybr) [HYBRID SACD]

1. Nomads

2. Related to One

3. Triumphant Dance of the Butterfly

4. Wind of an Immortal Soul

5. Every Time We Say Goodbye

6. Joined at the Hip

7. Concierto de Aranjuez

8. After the Ninth Wave

[Leeway]

Yes, I like this one too. I like Stefon Harris quite abit, and this is almost as much a SH date as it is a Buster Williams date. The sound is excellent. I read that RVG wanted to showcase SACD surround sound, and this disk is something of a demonstration piece. However, I listened to it in good old 2 speaker stereo and liked it just fine.

[montg]

I only have it in two speaker sound too and I agree it sounds excellent in that format. I like SH a lot better on this recording than on his own CD also released this year ('Evolution'--the Blackout band). I wanted to like that CD, I really did, and the first two cuts were pretty good, but the cheesy synthesizer noises got old quickly for me.

[Leeway]

I've been listenign to a lot of 70s jazz and so must be getting used to cheesy synthesizers I do usually have an allergy to them, also.

As for SH's performance, maybe working with a solid pro like Buster, and not having to prove himself as a forward-thinking leader, SH may have just relaxed and played to his talents on this one.

[LWayne]

Just purchased this disc while on vacation last week, and it is a real keeper!

Definitely one of the top 10 of the year. Great sound and Stefon Harris melds well with the band. Agreed with earlier comments that this disc is superior to his two most recent efforts for Blue Note under his own name.

LWayne