All you jazz police who rate this album poorly can pull your finger out of your ass and go f*ck yourselves.
Just because it doesn't sound like yet another droning unoriginal hard bop album, you dismiss it as something a "JAZZ lover" should not like.
Brecker has come up with some distinctive new sounds on this album.
Best tracks for me are: Chime This, Scriabin, Everything Happens When You're Gone and Talking to Myself.
To the guy who thinks the bonus track "The Gentleman & Hizcaine" is the best track: Get a clue ! - that is clearly the WORST track on the album. It IS kind of interesting, but it sounds like an afterthought.
PS: Cook and Morton suck !! (just thought I'd throw that in)
"
The greatest saxophonist I've ever heard.
11/25/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I play the sax, and this guy has intrigued me since the first time I heard him. This album is by far Brecker's greatest, as he flirts with fusion, funk, yet displays his softer, more melodic side. Track number one is one challenging song to play along with, but probably the most entertaining to listen to. If you're looking to hear someone who has mastered the sax, I highly recommend getting this album."
Fabulous...A must for all jazz lovers.
disgustipated | 09/06/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is by far Michael Breckers best album. It ranges from lush, beautiful sounds, all the way to great funk/fusion. I love this album, and I guarantee that you will too."
Good, but not great....
Shawn | IL United States | 09/21/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This release is a little more uneven than releases like Michael Brecker, Tales from the Hudson, or Time is of the Essence.
Maybe there was too much ambition behind this one (they toss in everything but the kitchen sink), or to many different sidemen for things to really gell.
When Brecker is playing tenor, he really blows...(as in great!) I could have used less of the EWI this time around. I loved the EWI playing a lot on Magnetic by Steps Ahead, but in most of the arrangements here I think the tenor is a better fit. A few of the tunes take a while to get cooking, only to fade out at the end... highlights include Scriabin, Don't Try This at Home, Talking to Myself, and the Gentleman and Hizzcaine.
I saw Brecker's live group a few times in the late eighties, and with Nussbaum, Calderazzo, Stern, and Andrews they were positively smokin'. This album just doesn't capture how good they were as a unit. Nussbaum absolutely killed on drums!"