Kenny Garrett

Accompanied by the rest of his crazy-good quartet—Vernell Brown on piano, Charnett Moffett on bass and Chris Dave on drums—Kenny Garrett amazes and enlightens here with his saxophone pyrotechnics (on both alto and soprano). A speed version of Cole Porter’s “What Is This Thing Called Love?” kicks it off. The rest are Garrett originals. “Kurita Sensei” most definitely moves the soprano sax out of Kenny G. territory (the other Kenny G.; Kenny Garrett ain’t no Kenny G.!). “Gendai” is reminiscent of “Seven Steps to Heaven,” written by Miles Davis, with whom Garrett played until the famed trumpeter’s death. Eric Harland plays drums on the closing track, “Standard of Language I II III,” as wild as much of the album, except for a little resting stretch in the middle of this 11-minute, 11-second tune (11:11…very auspicious!).