Channeling the linear rhythmic energy of Bud Powell and Thelonious Monk, the reflective harmonic spirit of Keith Jarrett and Bill Evans, and the romantic spirit of Latin music, pianist Edward Simon presents a comprehensive portrait of his unique musical concept on his first trio album since 1995. Simon is accompanied by the great John Patitucci (Waynte Shorter's bassist) and drummer Eric Harland.

For his fourth Criss Cross Jazz release as a leader, young trumpet sensation Ryan Kisor reunites with the rhythm section from his "Point of Arrival CD" - Peter Zak on piano, bassist John Webber, and Willie Jones III on drums - for a program of six original compositions, the standard ballad "I Should Care," and the Dizzy Gillespie classic "Fiesta Mojo." on the latter track Ryan's quartet is augmented with the terrific tenor of Eric Alexander and percussionist Renato Thom's.

As he has done on his three previous Criss Cross dates, Russian trumpeter Alex Sipiagin brings together a cohort of New York's finest - here reedmen Chris Potter and David Binney, keyboardist David Kikoski, bassist Scott Colley, and drummer Gene Jackson - to perform on "Equilibrium." Comprising seven stimulating Sipiagin originals, a Monk tune and a bossa, the album features not only the ensemble interplay and virtuosic soloing we've come to expect from Sipiagin's albums, but also several tunes on which the trumpeter brings his rich imagination and ravishing tone to the forefront.

Sacred music has long been a source of inspiration and creativity for the jazz musician. "Forever," Jimmy Greene's second release as a leader for Criss Cross, finds the tenor saxophonist continuing this rich tradition. Backed by the hard swinging rhythm section of Xavier Davis on piano, John Benitez on bass and Jeff 'Tain" Watts on drums, Greene combines modern arrangements of traditional spirituals with originals inspired by sacred themes. Greene's talents as an arranger and bandleader are in full view, as he gives classic spirituals a fresh, contemporary treatment.

For his fifth Criss Cross recording, Alex Sipiagin assembles a top-shelf quintet of generational peers, all colleagues who rank at the top of the pack on their respective instruments, to play a program of original music. The mood is melodic, polyphonic, rhythmically intense, more simmering than fiery, defined by Sipiagin's burnished, golden sound, the individualistic voice-like statements of tourist Seamus Blake and guitarist Adam Rogers, and the intuitive accompaniment of bassist Scott Colley and drummer Antonio Sanchez.

Joined by New York A-list Larry Grenadier and Bill Stewart, young guitar virtuoso Jonathan Kreisberg offers an impressive leader debut. Equally comfortable with bebop (Charlie Parker's "Relaxing at Camarillo"), the American song book ("Summertime," "My Ideal" and "Just in Time"), Jazz Modernism (Wayne Shorter's "JuJu") and Pop ("Michelle"), Kreisberg's instrumental voice is zestful, reflective and warm - every solo states a considered point of view.

On his first Criss Cross date since 1992, tenor sax master Ralph Bowen tackles the inspiriting organ-and-horns function with masterful aplomb, imparting clever re-harmonizing and rhythmic manipulations to the lingua franca that fire the creative juices of his top-shelf New York rhythm section, with Peter Bernstein on guitar, Hammond B3 organist Sam Yahel, the great Brian Blade on drums, and Philly trumpet master John Swana.

Tough young tenor Tim Warfield, permanent member of trumpet star Nicholas Payton's quintet, has his boss here in a sideman role with vibes-wizard Stefon Harris, pianist Cyrus Chestnut, bassist Tarus Mateen, and drummer Clarence Penn. This is an exciting, hard swinging album with mostly Warfield originals.

After presenting a program of gnarly originals for quartet on "Ultimatum" (CRC #1222), his Criss Cross debut, pianist George Colligan offers a beautifully paced trio recital. Mixing well-wrought originals with iconic standards like "Sophistcated Lady" and "Body and Soul" and such less-traveled repertoire as "Holiday for Strings" and "Three Views of a Secret," Colligan again displays the musicality and personal perspective that have marked his oeuvre over the past decade. In the rhythm section: bassist Vicente Archer and drummer Bill Stewart.

Pollwinning trombonist Conrad Herwig and acclaimed trumpeter Brian Lynch join together for a burning program of Latin Jazz treatments of compositions by the great John Coltrane. Herwig and Lynch use the unique rapport they've achieved through their many years of association with the Latin master Eddie Palmieri to pilot their working group of Latin Jazz all-stars with fire, finesse, and flair. Their illustrious band mates are baritone saxist/flautist Mario Rivera, pianist Edsel Gomez, bassist John Benitez, drummer Robby Ameen, and percussionist Richie Flores. With all new arrangements by Herwig and Lynch, this CD is a most worthy follow-up to Herwig's Grammy nominated "The Latin Side of John Coltrane."

Thirteen years and seven recordings after beginning his association with Criss Cross, John Swana presents his first album as the sole front-line horn. Spurred by an ace rhythm section comprising Dutch guitar great Jesse Van Ruller, bass megastar John Patitucci, and young drum lion Eric Harland, the Philadelphia based trumpeter rises to the occasion sensationally, navigating eight original compositions with the melodic flair and technical prowess that have stamped him as a long-time Criss Cross favorite.

Speaking eloquently to the benefits of keeping a working band together, One for All continues to add some distinctive flair to the mainstream tradition while building a singular book of originals and uniquely arranged standards. "Blueslike," their fifth effort for Criss Cross, finds John Coltrane firmly in mind with an uptempo romp through Giant Steps, and a bossa-inflected Naima. Rounding out this program of jazz standards are a few band originals and an updated arrangement of the Bacharach trinket in Between the Heartaches. In the band: Eric Alexander on tenor sax, Jim Rotondi on trumpet, Steve Davis on trombone, with pianist David Hazeltine, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Joe Farnsworth.

Perhaps no contemporary pianist blends Latin and Jazz vocabulary with the deftness and fluency of Ed Simon, who demonstrates the point on his second Criss Cross outing. Bassist Avishai Cohen and drummer Adam Cruz, both equally versed in the art of telling stories in swing and clave, join Simon on a program of six originals and a standard "You're My Everything." Guitarist Adam Rogers, himself a Criss Cross artist, and vocalist Luciana Souza augment the trio on the tune "Unknown Path."

For his fourth disc for Criss Cross, drummer/leader Ralph Peterson has reconstituted the Fo'tet, his critically acclaimed forward-looking quartet featuring vibraphonist Bryan Carrott. Founding member clarinetist Don Byron returns after a nearly 15 years hiatus to revisit the group's truly unique, original sound. Percussionist Eguie Castillo augments the band to help it fuse Latin rhythms into the mix, including a Puerto Rican plena arrangement of Joe Henderson's "Shade of Jade" and a Brazilian samba flavored reworking of the leader's "Keep it Simple." Features bassist Belden Bullock.

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