Composition / Improvisation Nos. 1, 2 & 3

One look at the lineup for this date on the back of the slipcase is enough to raise the eyebrows of and create anticipation in any avant jazz fan, given that some of these names and their instruments are associated with so many fine recordings that it's difficult to keep track of them all: Roscoe Mitchell playing soprano saxophone exclusively; Evan Parker as his foil on tenor and soprano; a rhythm section of drummers Tani Tabbal and Paul Lytton; bassists Jaribu Shahid and Barry Guy; Craig Taborn on piano; a string trio that includes Philipp Wachsmann, Nils Bultmann, and Marcio Mattos; flutist Neil Metcalfe; Anders Svanoe on alto and baritone saxophones; Corey Wilkes on trumpet and flügelhorn; and John Rangecroft on clarinet.

<p>(ECM)</p>