Seamus Blake - The Bloomdaddies (1996)

Criss Cross is famous as one of the top European bop-oriented labels, so this particular release was a real departure. The music uses electronics a bit; the playing is open to the influences of the avant-garde and funk, and the instrumentation is a bit different: Seamus Blake and Chris Cheek on tenors, Jesse Murphy on electric bass and both Jorge Rossy and Dan Reiser on drums. With the exception of an eccentric version of "Sing, Sing, Sing," all of the tunes are originals by either Blake or Cheek, including such titles as "Hick As Heck," "Final Sauna" and "To Be Ornette to Be." An intriguing, if not essential set. ~ Scott Yanow

Personnel: Seamus Blake (tenor saxophone); Chris Cheek (tenor saxophone); Jessie Murphy (bass guitar); Dan Reiser, Jorge Rossy (drums).