Jazz is not dead, and neither is this blog.

Nope, I'm still out here...I've just been waiting for the right moment to stage my triumphant return to blogging. Is this it? Or will this just be a New Year's Resolution gone wrong? Only time will tell.

In the meantime, I'm listening to Tony Williams' Spring, which sounds pretty darn brilliant. Wayne Shorter AND Sam Rivers? Almost too good to be true. The tunes are very loose and free, allowing for some really expressive playing by all involved. "From Before" is a personal favorite, with its ominous opening that ultimately leads into some melancholy yet adventurous piano playing from Herbie Hancock. Tony of course sounds great as always, particularly on his solo piece "Echo" which showcases his crisp sound and endless reservoir of ideas. He understands space, dynamics, and structure in a way that most drummers just don't. Rounding out the superb quintet is Gary Peacock on bass. I always particularly appreciate hearing Herbie in a free-ish setting like this where he really gets to throw out the rulebook. It's something he doesn't do as often on his own records, and I love it. Check out Sam Rivers' Contours for some similarly great work from him (and Sam, of course).

More to come, I promise...! :)