Pianist
Andy Jaffe
first released
Manhattan Projections
in 1984;
Playscape Recordings
reissued it in 2001. The new package includes an additional three tracks recorded in 1991 with different personnel. Adding to the historical interest of the original session is the presence of three of professor
Jaffe
's former Berklee pupils:
Branford Marsalis
,
Wallace Roney
, and
Marvin "Smitty" Smith
. The lineup is completed by
Ed Jackson
on alto sax,
Tom Olin
on piccolo (only on
"Samba de Saudade"
), and
Lou Harless
on bass. Although
's tunes are very straight-ahead, with standard harmonies and forms culled from the
post-bop
playbook, each has enough twists and turns to challenge even the most esteemed players. (An uncredited baritone saxophonist appears on
"Blues for Cannonball Adderley."
) The 1991 tracks are a bit more unusual, at least in terms of instrumentation, with
John Clark
's French horn and
Bill Lowe
's trombone meshing nicely with
Philippe Crettien
's tenor sax. Bassist
Mike Marcus
and drummer
Claire Arenius
join
in the rhythm section. A fat, low-register
hard bop
sound emanates from the front line of the group, and
's writing is every bit as engaging, although the recording quality is markedly inferior to the 1984 session. ~ David R. Adler