Broadcast on 05-Jan-2009

This latter-day masterpiece by one of the most distinctive voices of the alto saxophone is the first Feature of the new year. Arthur Blythe is an extraordinary alto saxophonist and composer who while playing music with an 'edge' is also lyrical and accessible. Blythe can perform in any context but his own recordings are usually with unusual mixes, not your standard traditional setup with trumpet, alto, piano, bass and drums. Arthur works things differently and this recording, his debut for the major Columbia label, is unique in it's instrumentation. Blythe on alto saxophone, the great flute virtuoso, James Newton, James 'Blood' Ulmer on guitar, Bob Stewart on tuba, Cecil McBee on bass, Jack DeJohnette on drums and Guilherme Franco on percussion. Only four tunes comprise the album, all by Arthur Blythe. "Lenox Avenue Breakdown" stands as a modern classic and a great tribute to the originality of Arthur Blythe.