John Stetch - Carpathian Blues (1994)

Pianist John Stetch and his excellent quartet (tenor saxophonist Seamus Blake, Jesse Murphy or Ugonna Okegwo on bass and Jordi Rossy or Gene Jackson on drums) start off their Terra Nova CD by displaying their individual approaches on fairly basic material. As the program progresses, the music becomes more original without losing its enthusiasm and passion. Whether it be the parade rhythms of "Inuit Talk," a lyrical Stetch-Blake duet on "Ocean Floors," Cedar Walton's "Bolivia," the driving "Baba Bakes" or a dissonant rendition of "Oleo," all of the eight selections heard on this well-rounded set are quite enjoyable. Both John Stetch (who displays touches of Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea) and Seamus Blake have managed to find their own voices within the tradition without sounding stale or predictable.