Renee Rosnes - Art & Soul (1999)

Renee Rosnes' sixth Blue Note CD shows her stretching well past her hard bop roots. Joined by bassist Scott Colley and husband Billy Drummond on drums, she covers a wide swath of musical styles. Her aggressive attack on Ornette Coleman's "Blues Connotation" contrasts with her laid back richly textured treatment of the old Beatles hit "With A Little Help From My Friends." Richard Bona adds some intriguing percussion to her inspired arrangement of Duke Elllington's rarely heard "Fleurette Africaine," and her approach to Bartok's "Children's Song No. 3" displays the trio's rhythmic gifts. "Ancient Footprints," a new version of Wayne Shorter's "Footprints" with lyric added by Kitty Margolis, is swinging hard bop with the tension of an uptempo African tribal chant and also features guest Dianne Reeves's strong vocals. The pianist's rollicking "Romp" and her joyful "Little Spirit" (dedicated to her infant son) are memorable works as well. Highly recommended.