Wide Angles is a 70-minute suite spotlighting Michael Brecker's electrifying tenor saxophone accompanied by a 15-piece chamber jazz group. Each of the 10 compositions (all by Brecker except one cowritten with George Whitty and one by Don Grolnick) serves as an extended showcase for Brecker's tenor in its various manifestations-at times driving and fiery, at times poignant and gentle, always emotion-charged and technically prodigious.

Michael Brecker, a major influence on today's young saxophonists, shows off his own influences a bit throughout this fine modern straight-ahead set. Brecker sounds surprisingly like Stanley Turrentine on parts of "Midnight Voyage," and otherwise displays his roots in Ernie Watts and John Coltrane. With the exception of Don Grolnick's "Willie T.," the music on the CD is comprised of group originals (five by the leader) and falls into the 1990s mainstream of jazz. While the tenor saxophonist has plenty of blowing space (really letting loose on the exciting closer, "Cabin Fever"), Pat Metheny is mostly pretty restrained (in a Jim Hall bag) except for his wild solo on guitar synth during "Song for Bilbao."

Bassist Mark Egan and drummer Danny Gottlieb have been longtime friends, starting with their days at the University of Miami in the early '70s and continuing during their period with Pat Metheny (Egan was in the guitarist's group from 1978-1980, while Gottlieb stayed until 1983). They formed Elements in 1982, which, from its start, also included Bill Evans on soprano and tenor and keyboardist Clifford Carter.

The Gambler’s Last Deal is more than just a concert. It’s a musical journey of Kenny’s life, compered by Kenny of course, complete with track after track of all his hits, archive footage, music videos and past concert performances from Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss and Dottie West…

Bassist Mark Egan and drummer Danny Gottlieb have been longtime friends, starting with their days at the University of Miami in the early '70s and continuing during their period with Pat Metheny (Egan was in the guitarist's group from 1978-1980, while Gottlieb stayed until 1983). They formed Elements in 1982, which, from its start, also included Bill Evans on soprano and tenor and keyboardist Clifford Carter.

This CD has some of the best all-around playing by the Mark Egan-Danny Gottlieb group Elements. The band originally started out as a crossover/fusion group, but by the mid-'90s it was much more post-bop with touches of Weather Report and Miles Davis-type fusion. In addition to the co-leaders, the solo strength of keyboardist Gil Goldstein and particularly David Mann on soprano and tenor gave this unit its own musical personality, permanently taking it away from crossover into adventurous jazz. The seven originals on this live set (six by Egan) serve as stimulating devices for fiery and creative solos, and the music is consistently exciting. Highly recommended, this date is an essentially unclassifiable set of modern jazz.

When Spirit River was recorded in 1990, a decade had passed since the electric bassist's departure from the Metheny Group; but Metheny's influence remained. Nonetheless, the album makes it clear that Egan and drummer Danny Gottlieb (Elements' other leader) have a collective vision of their own. This charming jazz/pop date isn't about intense or aggressive swinging, and tends to have an introspective, floating quality. Saxman Bill Evans (not to be confused with the late piano legend) is characteristically expressive and soulful on soprano, and Brazilian greats Flora Purim (vocals) and Airto Moreira (percussion) make some valuable, heartfelt contributions to the engaging CD.

Concert-recording from 2015 at the Meisenfrei Blues Club in Bremen / Germany.

Hard rocking traditional blues, from today's point of view. Harmonica, Hammond B-3, and blistering guitars,and a rhythm section so hot it'll catch your ears on fire. Giving the listener a well rounded tour through the blues. Thermal Blues Express comes from the hot air rising from the harmonica and the traditional train heading anywhere but here. We try to explore all types of blues from the hard rockin’ Self Imposed Blues and Doin’ What We Wanna Do! to the slow blues of Only Blues. Slide guitar gems like Don’t Care and No More Go showcase the brilliance of the guitar work. The inclusion of piano and Hammond B3 organ as well as the horns on Done Gone and Sittin’ on the Rim give this album the high energy blues we strive for. We hope you enjoy our mix and wish you all Love & Peace.