Know It Today, Know It Tomorrow

Modern jazz drummer Lewis has always been known as a helluva player, but on this CD he also shows he's a very fine composer -- he wrote six of the nine cuts. He assembled an incredible band of youngsters: bassist Christian McBride, pianist Ed Simon, and tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake. Dr. Eddie Henderson joins on four tracks as well. The music is modern post-bop mainstream and extraordinarily hip and tuneful. There are five pieces that stand on their own as potential classics. Lewis wrote "Hey, It's Me You're Talkin' To," and "Between Two Worlds," both with Henderson, both upbeat boppers in a Jazz Messengers mold. The former starts with a hard bass ostinato line leading into a leaping melody; the latter is more simmering than cooking, with Blake running through it the first time, Henderson joining in harmony, and McBride taking over on the fleet-fingered bridge. The title track has a soulful fuse of piano chords that sets off bombardier Lewis and Blake's sparkling tenor. The young Canadian saxophonist is an interesting player with definite Joe Henderson and Wayne Shorter influences, but shows an original voice already. He wrote "Gotta Start Somewhere," a simple, childlike melody that has harmonic touches reminiscent of a Randy Brecker composition -- understated and deep blue, yet intense. He's expresses somber moods on two patient ballads ("The Loss of a Moment" and Pamela Watson's "If You Only Knew Me") and pulls them off quite well. Dave Stryker's hip "Swamp Dog" languishes in modal chords by the consistently brilliant Simon, while Blake's blues-infected, swaggering tenor wades through dirty cattails and deep funky water. It also gives Lewis a chance to cut loose on an inventive solo as Simon chimes piano chords for the drummer to chase. At a lower ebb is the slow waltz "The Truce," in which Blake and Henderson skate around each other's counterpointed notions, finally agreeing on common ground. This is one to seek out, and is probably the best jazz recording of 1993. ~ Michael G. Nastos