Lift: Live at the Village Vanguard
Tenor saxophonist Chris Potter has been recording as a leader for a dozen years, after a rather audacious start inRed Rodney's band at the age of 20. A melodic player given to deliriously swooping runs in his improvisations--Sonny Rollinsis a notable influence--Potter and his quartet stretch out on originals and three covers. From the gorgeous "Okinawa" to the relentless closer,Charles Mingus's "Boogie Stop Shuffle," the four musicians form a perfectly matched combo, playing off each other with evident glee. The live setting has energized them and given them an opportunity to fully explore these compositions, as on Potter's solo intro to the Mingus tune. What's astounding about it is that, at nearly 15 minutes, it never falls into a rut as he finds ever more layers to peer under and pull apart.--David Greenberger