Marc Copland

DIGIPACK EDITION

Marc Copland's quartet further develops his longstanding relationships with Gress and Baron. There's lots of connectivity here: the three are the rhythm section of John Abercrombie's quartet, and Copland and Baron fill out legendary bassist Gary Peacock's trio. With the addition of Ralph Alessi, Copland now has a quartet that is well suited to go wherever the music takes them--as is made readily apparent in the improvised suite “Air We've Never Breathed.” The album also contains four Copland compositions, and the overlooked “Mystery Song” by Duke Ellington, which is given a reading, which simultaneously honors the past while acknowledging the present.

These four masters have nothing to prove; they are all continuing to explore, and the level of their work gets higher every year. But not only are their individual skills remarkable; their level of emotional commitment is extremely high--and the interplay between them is extraordinary. This quartet can burn, but it can also reflect the depth and intimacy usually found in very special trios.

PERSONNEL:

MARC COPLAND, piano
RALPH ALESSI, trumpet
DREW GRESS, bass
JOEY BARON, drums

Recorded at Oktaven Audio, New York, June 27 & 28, 2015

TRACKS:

01. Sun at the Zenith
02. Mystery Song
03. Air we've never breathed
- I The Bass Knows
- II Up And Over
- III Lips
04. Waterfalls
05. Best Bet
06. Hurricane