Steve Wilson
's second recording as a leader shows considerable growth from his first, as he adds
Steve Nelson
's vibes to a group consisting of frequent
Wilson
collaborators (pianist
Bruce Barth
, bassist
James Genus
, and drummer
Lewis Nash
), with the sax-vibes front line creating a different group sound while adding more of the passion that characterized the first.
, who wrote three of the eight compositions on
Blues for Marcus
, shows a stronger voice on alto sax, sounding reminiscent of
Gary Bartz
at times, and introduces his soprano sax, an instrument he would later use exclusively with
Ralph Peterson's Fotet
. Highlights include
Ornette Coleman
's
"Jayne,"
based on the chords to the
standard
"Out Of Nowhere"
and alternating between a
samba
and
swing
feel;
Joe Chambers
'
"Patterns,"
taken at a blistering tempo;
"Diaspora,"
a three-sectioned composition played, according to liner notes writer and saxophonist
Don Braden
, "in the time feels of 12/8, 7/4, and 21/8!"; and the title track, an up-tempo
blues
complete with well-placed drum accents from
Nash
. One of 1993's best releases. ~ Greg Turner