On Another Place, he is joined by Drew Gress on bass, Billy Hart on drums, and John Ambercrombie on guitar. They've played and recorded together before and seem happy to do so on this CD. They are a subtle, delicate group, which, apparently, is Copland's trademark.

The music is intended to evoke landscapes and vistas, places. The quartet is successful in describing gentle rivers, the emptiness of the west, mysterious hills and valleys. Their musical landscape is diverse. It makes for soothing music, to be sure, but at times it seems repetitive and, well, boring.

Everyone but the drummer added a piece to this topographical jazz collection. Copland wrote the opening track, "Like You" and the title track, "Another Place." The title track is truly the one that gets repetitive and even aggravating. The trenchant notes just stab the mind. The opening track, however, is solid. If these are all landscape evoking songs, then "Like You" is the moment a person wanders out of the cityscape into the rugged world.

John Ambercrombie contributed three songs. "River Bend" has a sinister opening two minutes and then you can feel the dawn break with the cascading keys of Copland's piano and of Billy Hart's drums. Ambercrombie's guitar is at the heart of the track. It becomes easy to get lost in his strings. It is really a gorgeous song. His other contributions are "Car Blue Lady" and "Ballad in Two Keys." Both are strong entries.

The bass player, Drew Gress, bestowed "Dark Horse" on the CD. It's a delicate, dark song, very moody. The last track is a classic from Cole Porter, "Everything I Love." The quartet has a snappy feel on that last song. While the drummer, Billy Hart, did not contribute a song he certainly contributed fabulous drumming to the entire record. He's got a fat, thick tone on his toms, a great snare shuffle, and crisp cymbal work.

Another Place is like a hot jacuzzi after a long day: refreshing and relaxing, but eventually you've got to get out.

 
Tim Hagans – Alone Together

The subdued music on Tim Hagans' new CD is at times soothing, at times aggravating. The CD features the renowned Marc Copland on piano, his regular associate on bass, Drew Gress, and Jochen Ruckert on drums. Hagans plays the trumpet.