Will Calhoun Native Lands CD

In this set, drum master Calhoun, former drummer for Living Colour, marries his far-reaching interests in a genre-bending collections that taps key expressionists from various musical styles. Contributing artists include Pharoah Sanders, Mos Def, Stanley Jordan, Marcus Miller, Nana Vasconcelos, Wallace Roney, Orrin Evans, John Benitez, and Kevin Eubanks. The DVD includes behind-the-scenes interviews, commentary, and studio footage.

This release contains a bonus DVD with interviews, footages and commentaries.
Personnel: Will Calhoun; John Benítez, Marcus Miller, Mos Def, Naná Vasconcelos, Orrin Evans, Pharoah Sanders, Stanley Jordan, Wallace Roney, Kevin Eubanks.
Drummer Will Calhoun's Native Lands is a rather ambitious effort and quite successful. The personnel changes on each selection, ranging from a quintet with tenor-saxophonist Pharoah Sanders and trumpeter Wallace Roney to several duets, solo pieces for Will Calhoun on a variety of instruments, and even a 30-second statement on drums from two-year old Tateich Calhoun. The leader wrote the majority of the selections yet does not dominate, and his many illustrious sidemen have opportunities to stretch out. The post is post-bop jazz, sometimes looking towards Africa, always rhythmically interesting, and never dull or meandering. The accompanying DVD is part travelogue, part documentary of the record dates, and also holds one's interest. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow