From the jazz standpoint, Russia has been most famous for its avant-garde and Dixieland musicians.
Igor Butman does not fall into either area, being a high-quality hard bop tenor saxophonist with a sound and style of his own within the straight-ahead tradition. Joined on this CD by pianist
Lyle Mays (on a brief hiatus from the Pat Metheny Group), bassist
Eddie Gomez, and drummer
Marvin "Smitty" Smith,
Butman (who doubles on soprano) performs seven of his swinging originals,
Horace Silver's "Peace," a folk song, and "My One and Only Love." It is surprising that he has not become better known in the United States (where he moved in 1988), for
Igor Butman is an excellent improviser. This disc gives listeners an excellent sampling of his musical talents. ~ Scott Yanow