Gordon studied with Phil Woods in his younger days but has transcended any influence from him and has found his own voice. His playing is without any of the cliches one could imagine in contemporary alto playing, and his tone on both alto and soprano is really nice. What sets this recording apart is the presence of the three horns - Tim Hagans on trumpet and Mark Turner on tenor saxophone. Several of the tunes really get into the voicings of two and three horns together, creating harmonies and sounds that are inventive and inspiring. There is a lot of improvising even when all three horns are playing at once and it works. The line between composition and improvisation is fluid and seamless. Imaginitive and cohesive playing by all five musicians, and always seeming to fit the spirit of the composition.

It is no exaggeration to say that saxophonist Jon Gordon and pianist Bill Charlap are two of the finest musicians of their generation; both have a strong link to Phil Woods - Gordon studied with the alto sax master and has recorded with him, while Charlap began serving as Woods' regular pianist. The final connection is that Woods produced the sessions that resulted in this outstanding collection of duets. The two musicians have played together frequently since attending the same high school, and their familiarity with one another helps each of them in anticipating where the other is likely to go. Although Gordon is best known for his work on alto sax (he won the Thelonious Monk alto sax competition) he begins on soprano sax for a sterling interpretation of "Stardust"…