David Binney Quartet - A Glimpse of the Eternal (2022)

The tenth Criss Cross album with David Binney's imprimatur, A Glimpse of the Eternal, is, he says, "completely different than anything I've ever done - chilled out, an honest and pleasant vibe, nothing too complicated or intense."

If that self-description seems at odds with the intense, complex tonal personality that Binney has presented on his 30-album discography since 1990 ...well, that was his intention. He explains: "Initially, I wanted to do something like those almost commercial records from the '50s or '60s or '70s, like a Gene Ammons record I have where he plays these ballad- like tunes for 2-and-1/2 - 3 minutes." He adds: "All the guys were super-enthusiastic about doing a straight-ahead ballads record."

But as Binney researched and culled repertoire, he changed course. He decided to incorporate a few "more energetic" tracks and to record some covers of "obscure tunes that meant something to me."

The album was recorded June 29, 2021 at the Samurai Hotel Recording Studio and mixed and mastered by Mike Marciano at the Systems Two Recording Studios.

David Binney: alto saxaophone
Craig Taborn: piano
Eivind Opsvik: bass
Dan Weiss: drums