New York Connexion is a band assembled from among the Sirocco label's talent roster. The lineup certainly puts the "super" in supergroup: alto and soprano saxophonist
Antonio Hart (on loan from Enja Records), trombonist/producer
Robin Eubanks, tenor saxophonist
Craig Handy, vibraphonist
Joe Locke, pianist
Michael Cain, bassist
Lonnie Plaxico, and drummer
Billy Kilson.
Eubanks and
Kilson have been bandmates in the
Dave Holland Quintet, which also uses vibes, so there are certain hints of that group's sound here. On the whole, however,
Crossing the Bridge is less adventurous. Each band member contributes a tune, except for
Kilson and
Plaxico. (
Locke contributes two.) In addition, there are covers of
Freddie Hubbard's fusion classic "Little Sunflower" and
Clare Fischer's "Morning."
Michael Cain's "Greeting Ra" is the most unusual of the bunch: jubilant, collective soloing on a four-chord cycle over a 6/4 funk feel gives way to a ballad, quite unexpectedly, immediately following a great
Kilson drum solo. The other pieces sound a bit formulaic in comparison, starting with
Antonio Hart's mellow 6/8 tune "Nine Weeks" and continuing through
Locke's jazz waltz "Broken Toy,"
Craig Handy's "Bossa Ballad,"
Robin Eubanks's minor-key blowout "NYC," and
Locke's mid-tempo, even-eighth finale "This Is War." The musicianship is absolutely top-notch, but the album lacks the kind of overall punch that a lineup like this would seem to promise.