The Road Not Taken

Jazz educator Stefan Karlsson's second CD as a leader documents an already promising composer and pianist, backed by a solid group which includes tenor saxophonist Rich Perry, Dick Oatts (alto and soprano saxes, alto and C flutes), bassist Marc Johnson, and drummer Jim White. Six of the 11 songs are the leader's own, of which the dark "Night at New York," the pulsating "Kaptain Krunch," and the haunting "Ballad for Miles," the latter which opens with a duet by Johnson and Oatts (on flute), stand out. Oatts' alto sax is the focal point of his "Someplace Else." One can feel the anguish in Johnson's emotional "Double Sacrifice" immediately. Throughout the session, Karlsson proves himself as both an effective soloist and ensemble player, displaying great maturity for a musician only in his mid-twenties at the time. Unavailable since Justice ceased operations, this highly recommended 1991 release should be relatively easy to track down.