Octet Vespers (1994)

Lacy's flawless, subtly colored, extended soprano-sax cadenza -- as intriguing an opening as any recorded in years -- draws us into Octet Vespers (Soul Note), a dark, densely packed work. As a player, Lacy is heard less than one might wish (and vocalist Irene Aebi perhaps more), but as a composer he speaks through all of his bandmates. And his is one of the most original voices in jazz. A