There's no substitute for experiencing jazz live. There are, however, some recordings that manage to do a damn good job coming close. This happens to be one of them.

Noted jazz photographer Jimmy Katz, who's quickly developed a strong reputation as a recording engineer and producer who seeks to capture jazz in its true and unaltered forms, was the impetus behind the creation of this album. He sold saxophonist-flutist Lew Tabackin on the idea, set up a makeshift recording environment in Steve Maxwell's Vintage and Custom Drum Shop in Manhattan, and created a scenario where this trio could simply do its thing without the stress that comes with the studio. It all came off beautifully in the end, leading to this excellent addition to Tabackin's discography.

It's often easy to overlook Tabackin because he doesn't churn out an album a year to stay in the jazz public eye. But it's impossible to forget him when you hear music like this. There's much to commend and respect here, beyond the obvious technical matters, and it all starts with the song setups. Note how Tabackin uses