Snakeoil ECM*****

Few contemporary musicians blend composition and improvisation as successfully as this alto saxophonist. Indeed, Tim Berne all but renders that distinction obsolete, so seamlessly does he integrate these apparently contradictory practices. For two decades Berne has been the standard- bearer of New York's creative music scene, and his writing, live performances and recordings have hugely influenced the current generation of musicians. So Berne's debut as a leader for ECM is something of a coup for both parties. The respected Munich-based label has provided a conducive artistic environment for a number of important US musicians, including Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny and John Abercrombie. With Snakeoil, there is a sense that Berne is entering a whole new phase in his music, and the group he has been woodshedding for the past two years – clarinetist Oscar Noriega, pianist Matt Mitchell and drummer Ches Smith – seems to appreciate just where he's headed. ecmrecords.com