Picture in Three Colors

Eero Koivistoinen is one of the greats of Finnish jazz, though he isn't widely known outside of Europe. But this 1983 session for the German Core label is a CD worth tracking down. The saxophonist recruited five well-known American jazz musicians (Jim McNeely, Tom Harrell, John Scofield, Jack DeJohnette, and Ron McClure) to interpret his music, it is immediately apparent that the players dove head first into these new charts at the date. The songs are comparable to what one would hear on a post-bop recording by an American band during that era, with plenty of twists, tight ensembles, and hot solos. Highlights include the haunting "Picture in Three Colours," the ballad "Long Way from Home," and the group's playful romp through "Kindergarten." ~ Ken Dryden