Chris Potter writes: “Jim McNeely has always been one of my favorite composer/ arrangers, so I was thrilled to get the chance to work with him on [this] piece inspired by one of my favorite compositions, The Rite of Spring. He also arranged some of my music in a way that made me hear my own compositions in a fresh way. The band was a total delight to work with and played beautifully throughout, and I’m very proud of the result.”

REVIEW:

"Rituals," both the name of the album and of the work which accounts for a majority of its runtime, was originally commissioned as a tribute to Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” for a performance marking the 100-year anniversary of the Paris premiere of the “Rite.” It is fascinating to observe how McNeely pays tribute to the source while creating a work that is distinct, separate and his own.

In the course of Chris Potter’s solos and cadenzas in “Rituals”, he seems to capture the essence of the work’s fecund chaos. It sounds as though he is giving his absolute all and relishing every moment (in this position, it is hard to imagine any other soloist doing a better job). He is also composer of the final four tracks on the album, all still arranged by McNeely. 

The union of a composer such as Jim McNeely, at the height of his abilities, with the virtuosic powerhouse that is Chris Potter, supported by one of the world’s most accomplished bands, has a lot to live up to. Thankfully, this is an album that seems to successfully fulfil expectations and keep delivering new revelations.

-- London Jazz News (Charles Rees)