Family

Drummer "Tain" Watts turned 50, got married and became a father to twins right around the time this album was recorded, and the mature jubilation that permeates the disc clearly comes from someone less interested in sowing his wild oats than in adding a branch — or two — on the family tree. Where the drummer's previous record was politically acrid and sharp-witted, Watts wastes no time showcasing his satisfied ebullience on the title cut, which sports a brawny, crowd-pleasing melody, a solid contrast between Steve Wilson's alto sax and Watts's heavy, tom-tom oriented rhythm combinations. A highlight — of both this song and the entire record — is the work of underrated pianist David Kikoski, whose chiming tone and sparkling phrases are vital to the projects prevailing mood. Add stalwart bassist James Genus, and you have a rock-solid quartet that's capable of maintaining equilibrium despite Watts' dominant approach (which is, at times, reminiscent of Tony Williams) and whose interplay becomes more enriching with repeated listening.

There are overt tributes that extend the Family concept beyond Watts, his band, his children and his new wife (pocket trumpeter Laura Kahle, who helps out with the production and artwork here). "Of August Moon"… read more »