Guitarist Jesse Van Ruller takes a different approach to Circles, his second CD for the American-market-oriented label Criss Cross. While standards and jazz classics were still on his previous CD Here and There, Circles mainly recorded works of his own. Another difference is the composition of his group, in which lead roles are played by Sam Yahel on organ and Seamus Blake on tenor sax. The quartet
… is completed by Bill Stewart on drums, not least, given his work with Pat Metheny, Larry Goldings and Chris Potter. Jesse likes to make songs himself, especially if he knows the members of the band well. For this CD he has taken Bill Stewart's drumming as a starting point. In addition to the six own songs, a song by Seamus Blake has also been recorded, and a ballad version of Gone With The Wind. With his clear tone, smooth phrasing and strong imagination, Van Ruller once again shows that he deserves a place among the best straight-ahead jazz stylists in the world. (RM)more