From Now on
If there were ever a time for the jazz audience to (re)discover saxophonist and one-time Miles Davis bandmate Fortune, it's on the terrific 1996 albumFrom Now On, with a spectacular band that includes tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano, trumpeter Eddie Henderson, pianist John Hicks, and drummer Jeff Watts. In settings ranging from a quartet to septet, the first seven numbers are mainstream arrangements that display Fortune's mastery of everything from modal development to romantic balladry. On the uptempo bop original, "Second and Fifth," the darting agility and honeyed tone of Fortune's solo is nicely contrasted by the brawny power of Lovano's. By providing a Latin flavor to the title tune, percussionist Steve Berrios and bassist Santi Debriano bolster the jauntiness of the leader's playing.--Geoffrey Himes