Making his initial impression on the musical public as one of the bad boys of jazz, Arthur Blythe has aged with the subtlety and taste of a fine wine. Blythe has the unique ability to be stylistically on the 'inside' and the 'outside' simultaneously, moving spontaneously between the two as the need for personal expression dictates. His logical, well-constructed improvisations show that one can be a forward-looking player without neglecting melody, rhythm, tone and thematic development. Surrounded by his colleagues of choice these days -- keyboard giant John Hicks, rhythm-man Cecil Brooks III and the irrepressible Bob Stewart on tuba -- Arthur and company create highly original music, whether it be in Arthur's imaginative original works ("7/4 Thang", "Phase Two") or while digging into the familiar ("Just Friends", "Straighten Up and Fly Right"). But creativity and innovations aside, the music Arthur plays is great jazz, and you can't ask for more than that.

Arthur Blythe- saxophone; John Hicks - piano; Bob Stewart - tuba; Cecil Brooks III - drums

Tracks: Cousin Mary; Come Sunday; Exhaust Suite; Night Train; 7/4 Thang; Equinox; Just Friends; CJ; All Blues; Straighten Up and Fly Right; Exhale.

Cousin Mary

7/4 Thang

All Blues

Straighten Up and Fly Right