The 2011 three-disc anthology The Soulful Mr. Newman compiles tracks from all of saxophonist David "Fathead" Newman's Highnote recordings beginning with 1999's Chillin' through 2009's The Blessing. A swinging, bluesy, and accomplished jazz saxophonist, Newman was a legend by the time he signed with Highnote in the late '90s. For the last ten years of his life -- he died from pancreatic cancer in 2009 -- Newman was showcased by the label, releasing a handful of stellar, straight-ahead, acoustic jazz albums. Not surprisingly, these albums also featured a bevy of stellar backing musicians, including such names as pianists Cedar Walton and John Hicks, drummer Winard Harper, bassist Peter Washington, and trombonists Curtis Fuller and Steve Turre, among others. From blues to standards and Latin numbers, this is passionate, urbane, and swinging acoustic jazz in small- and large-group settings that perfectly frame Newman's fluid style. ~ Matt Collar