Paul Motian - On Broadway, Vol. 2 (1989)

The second of three Paul Motian records that spotlight jazz standards, On Broadway, Vol. 2 includes innovative but respectful readings of tin pan alley nuggets by George Gershwin, Jerome Kern, Richard Rogers, and others. Motian's working band (guitarist Bill Frisell and tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano) and guest bassist Charlie Haden are in top form on both ballads ("Moonlight Becomes You" and "Good Morning Heartache") and up-tempo material ("I Got Rhythm" and "Nice Work If You Can Get It"). Frisell, in particular, stands out with his mercurial yet mindful solos, while Lovano impresses with vigorously fluid tenor work. Motian keeps things lively with his jaunty rhythmic sense and Haden anchors it all in typically unpredictable fashion. On Broadway, Vol. 2 is not only one of many fine Motian recordings on the Swiss label JMT (later to morph into Motian's current label, Winter & Winter), but it also is a showcase of some of the smartest, most rewarding jazz improvisation of the last couple decades.