Homecoming: Live At the Iridium

This two-CD set features the brilliant clarinetist and tenor saxophonist Eddie Daniels live at the Iridium in New York during a four-day engagement. Daniels is a great virtuoso on clarinet who can play either jazz or classical music with equal skill. His tenor playing is sometimes overshadowed, but listen to how he rips into "Falling In Love with Love," never running out of creative ideas during his lengthy solo, and his explorative improvisation on a version of "Night and Day" that is reminiscent of "Giant Steps." Daniels alternates standards with obscurities and complex originals including the rapid "That's for Afta," which is based on the chord changes of "After You've Gone." With fine solos also contributed by vibraphonist Joe Locke and pianist Tom Ranier, Daniels is inspired to play at his best throughout. This set concludes with briefer "radio edits" taken from three of the performances. Recommended.