Broken Wing

's personalized style was well served later in his life, and as his days in Europe were more conducive to his personal lifestyle, it also gave his music a chamber-like quality while maintaining modern mainstream values. is a combination of the two aspects of 's understated romanticism, the deep-seeded pain through his drug abuse and the humanity that lies underneath the rough-hewn surface of his tattered heart. This quartet combines the advanced melodic gifts of pianist , the great French bassist , and lesser-known but tasteful drummer , from studio sessions done in Paris in 1978. The tracks are extended because of solos, done mostly by , split between standards and originals penned by the trumpeter, , and . sings on one cut, the lesser-known standard with an elusive quality that parallels the specious and ineffable quality of our late-night light in the sky. Fairly lengthy versions of and 's allow the trumpeter and especially the marvelous to stretch out and solo, as they have a streaming flow of improvisational ideas to release. is particular poignant, deep, and modern, a pretty but sad ballad waltz where 's muted trumpet echoes in a forward-thinking style. The lesser-known piece written by , is in another arena especially for -- marginally harmonic in a light bossa mood, spare, effortless, and compacted within its interplay from the four members. This is not so much an unusual recording from in that his risk-taking is never pronounced or that his soul is completely bared. The document of a short-lived group, it's an interesting effort, well crafted and standing solidly with other items in his latter-period discography. has been reissued on CD from ; it should also be noted that has issued this recording with two alternate takes, comprising another quarter hour of music. Either item will suffice to satisfy 's fans. ~ Michael G. Nastos