Live at Village Vanguard

this collection of live material from 1991 through 1994 is a great overview of mr. marsalis' septet. this is some of the purest jazz mr. marsalis has recorded, revealing not only his talent as a composer and musician, but also allowing us a glimpse of the talent he gathered in his band. wycliffe gordon (trombone), wessell anderson (alto sax), todd williams (tenor sax), eric reed (piano), marcus roberts (piano), reginald veal (bass), et al all shine throughout. lately, mr. marsalis has been experimenting and developing a music that melds together the rhythm and swing of jazz with the structure of classical, developing an idiom of jazz tone poem (albums "in this house," "citi movement," many of the releases in the "swinging into the 21st century" series). here, we hear many of those works, but in the much freer context of a jazz club performance. as you will hear on the seven intros, many of these pieces were recorded in the late, late hours a classic time frame for jazz. the band is warm and the music flows. particular highlights are "cherokee" (disc one), both performances of "stardust," "brother veal," the monk covers. the price alone makes this box set appealing. now for the gripes: a small one is the mythical arrangement into a seven night stand. i would like to hear each of the three versions of the septet recorded in their own sets, not cut and pasted together (a nitpicky complaint i know). second, i wish mr. marsalis would get a new writer of liner notes. pomposity knows no bounds! (again, a nitpicky complaint). otherwise, get the set and enjoy some of the best jazz of this or any other year!