And the Music Lives On is wide-open music, there is such incredible breadth to it. Shawn "Thunder" Wallace has created some amazing jazz.

Wallace (saxophones, flute, piccolo, alto flute, grand piano and keyboards) creates this feel with the help of Dwight Adams (trumpet), Kurt Krahnke (acoustic bass), Joe Lane (drums and wind chimes), Sherman Mitchell (trombone) and Eddie Russ (grand and electric piano).

The CD starts off by introducing the musicians as if they were playing live in "Intro." The come a pair of tributes, first "And the Music Lives On," which shows some of the older styles of play. The other is "My Father," which feels like it is created for one person. "Some Kind of Blue" frolics and dances along on the edges of blues.

"Dream Come True" is a sweeping love song that whispers to your heart. You are served a beautiful interlude in "Giant Steps" and return to the second part of the cycle in "You're Glowing." The past and present are bridged in "Straight Outta L-Town," a tune that blends older styles of jazz with new.

"Lonely" is the third part of the cycle and it tears your heart with its longing. There is a deep and quiet joy in "Keep the World Singing." The fourth part of the cycle. "Hard Times," continues off where the last part ended as the sorrow grows. This is contrasted by "A Song 4 U," another gentle love song that is full of zest. There is a dark edge to the last piece of the cycle, "Confusion," a tune for when love is gone.

They take a slice of Chopin in "Nocturne No. 5," a composition that falls between jazz and classical and is strangely good. The edges of classical remain in "An Amazon Waterfall," a tribute to nature's beauty. The CD ends with "Outro II" and right from the first note you know it is the closer.

And the Music Lives on is a beautiful CD full of broad music that takes your breath away.

- Rambles
written by Paul de Bruijn
published 30 November 2002