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John Adams Four 1/2 Stars   * * * *

Once in a great while, though, a story will crop up about some sort of goodwill between the two cities. With "Fly By Night," bassist John Adams proves to be a credible peacekeeper in the battle for Interstate 45.

With fellow Dallas/Denton resident Ed Soph on the drums, Adams has enlisted some of the best & brightest of the Houston jazz....er, JazzHouston, community. Enter Joe LoCascio on piano & trumpeter extraordinaire Dennis Dotson (along with an all-too-brief appearance from tenor saxophonist Warren Sneed).

No question about it--the guys are at the top of their game. These are the musicians that other musicians pay to see. From the driving blues of "Dues and Dont's" to the gently pulsating bossa "Romantique," the attention to detail and finesse are apparent throughout this CD.

This CD was recorded live at the now defunct Ovations. The sound of that room can be heard as a major component in the final product---whether this is a good thing or not depends upon the listener's opinion of the "Cavern Formerly Known As Ovations", but the sonic imprint is at no time intrusive to the music. Your nostalgia may vary.

Back to the music....one particularly successful moment comes on the title track. After a spirited romp by Dotson and his trumpet, the bottom drops out to reveal LoCascio flying solo on piano. When the rest of the rhythm section joins back in, they do so with the utmost precision (what else would you expect from these artisans?)----a thrilling moment to behold.

Another masterful touch is the tag-team arrangement on "Stella By Starlight." LoCascio starts it off with a wonderful soliloquy. After stating the melody, Adams slides in, and a marvelous conversation insues between the two. At the end of this dialogue, the two of them hand the tune over to Soph & Dotson, who continue the discussion seamlessly. LoCascio lends his support, and Adams eventually returns. All of this in just the first 1/3 of the track! S'wonderful.

The Adams/Soph combination is a partnership developed over years of performances together, and it shows brilliantly. The bass/drum relationship is such an important part of any successful jazz ensemble, but with these guys the symbiosis is so strong that the focus invariably shifts toward the soloist of the moment. Like a great athlete, they make it look easy.

John Adams has delivered a terrific collection, and he's brought together the best of Texas. I guess those Dallas guys aren't so bad after all...