Bobby Previte's Weather Clear, Track Fast - Hue and Cry (1994)

Drummer/composer Bobby Previte takes his listening audience to the horseraces on this often stunning 1991 release. This is easily one of the most important modern jazz outings of the decade, with clarinetist Don Byron, woodwind ace Marty Ehrlich, cornetist Graham Haynes, and others of note rounding out the drummer's powerhouse septet. On pieces such as "Quinella" and "Photo Finish," the band exhibits a celebratory state of affairs via an abundance of infectious melodies and rapidly executed swing vamps. Furthermore, Previte serves as the director of traffic thanks to his peppery grooves and subtle shifts in strategy, while the soloists generally reconstruct the primary themes in variegated fashion. One of the reasons why this recording is so successful resides within Previte's memorably melodic compositions and near flawless arrangements. All of this is enhanced by the horn section's imaginative implications, whereby a simple chorus of extended notes might serve as a signal or time stamp amid the oscillating flows and overall sense of movement. Hence, listeners can almost envision the bettors at the racetrack cashing in their winning tickets as the vivid imagery speaks encyclopedic volumes here. Highly recommended.