Nelson Rangell - Truest Heart (1993)

Denver native Nelson Rangell's three prior GRP releases promoted positive and diverse energy, but his true voice and direction were somewhat uncertain, caught between the molds of "Sanborn clone" and "fine flutist." No longer. Truest Heart shows him to be an artist of depth, a master of song, and an improvisor nonpareil. The opening cut, Chuck Loeb's galvanizing "World Traveler," with its booming hook and playfulness, is typical of the resounding power of the best sax cuts, while "Ajla" and "This Simple Beauty" show Rangell's balance of more expressive emotions. In a field crowded with fine saxmen, it's his flute playing which truly stands out. Kip Kuepper's "Flight," for instance, provides an easygoing, memorable melody which Rangell peppers with effortless complexity, seeming at times almost superhuman, as he hits dizzying multitudes of notes normally reserved for straightahead projects. ~ Jonathan Widran