A veteran of bands led by
Tony Williams,
Roy Haynes, and
Betty Carter, pianist
Darrell Grant's
Criss Cross finds
Grant working with trumpeter
Wallace Roney, bassist
Christian McBride, and drummer
Brian Blade on five
post-bop originals, two
jazz classics, and two
standards. While this recording is under
Grant's name, the real star of this recording is
Roney. Often maligned by critics for sounding too much like
Miles Davis,
Roney possesses a more aggressive attack that he puts to use on several numbers, including the energetic
Latin-influenced
"Freedom Dance," "Tilmon Tones," based on a phrase from a
Williams composition, and even shows his lyrical side on the beautiful melody of
Grant's
"Foresight." Grant also contributes a hip trio arrangement of the often-played
standard "What Is This Thing Called Love." After a brief
McBride bass solo,
Grant's piano "suggests" the melody over a
McBride bass vamp with the bridge played at a faster tempo. The song even ends with a whispering voice a la
Davis. A satisfying label debut from a up-and-coming young musician. ~ Greg Turner
