AUM Fidelity

After a decade and a half of dwelling in the shadows of the vanguard jazz pantheon, saxophonist David S. Ware reaches his zenith with this rendering of Sonny Rollins' 1958 magnum opus Freedom Suite. Originally composed for performance by a trio, Ware's addition of Matthew Shipp's piano to the proceedings allows him to completely reconceptualize the entire work.

Raining On the Moon is comprised of Parker’s ace quartet (Drake, Parker, trumpeter Lewis Barnes and alto saxophonist Rob Brown) plus two vital women, vocalist Leena Conquest and pianist Eri Yamamoto.

"Brown is one of the hardest hitting alto players currently on the scene ...

Roy Campbell is a jazz trumpeter and composer of the first order, one who encompasses the tradition even as he pushes the music forward.

When David S. Ware plays his distinctive tenor saxophone, one cannot help but think he is a direct disciple of John Coltrane, Archie Shepp, and David Murray. His edgy, dour, and dynamic sound retains a verve, control, and balance that many free improvisers cannot claim.

New Orleans tenor saxophone legend Kidd Jordan's annual treks north to perform late-night sets with Windy City tenor legend Fred Anderson during the run of the Chicago Jazz Festival have become an institution.

"Let's be bold: the David S. Ware Quartet is the best small band in jazz today. I realize that I will almost certainly hear another quartet, or trio or quintet or octet, this week or next, that will make me want to backpedal. But every time I see Ware's group or return to the records, it flushes the competition from memory." -- Gary Giddins, Village Voice