Swana,John Bright Moments CD

For his tenth Criss Cross date as a leader, trumpeter John Swana presents his first twin-tenor sextet. Swana, tenor saxophonists Eric Alexander and Grant Stewart, pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Peter Washington and drummer Kenny Washington have intersected on many occasions, but never together in a group. Bright Moments focuses largely on original material with a couple of standards thrown in for good measure; but the writing is so captivating, the performances so attention-grabbing, that it feels like an album of well-known songs. The ever-inventive Swana creates here challenging contexts for his sextet, with an emphasis on hard-swinging and refined balladry.

1. Wilbert 2. Chillin' Out 3. Road Trippin' 4. Ferris Wheel 5. Shrack's Corner II 6. Bright Moments 7. Inevitable Encounter 8. Everything I Have Is Yours 9. KD 10. Open Highway 11. Shrack's Corner I