Altoist Sadao Watanabe is considered one of Japan's top jazzmen. Some of his recordings are quite commercial but this particular one finds him paying tribute to Charlie Parker with what was called "the great jazz trio:" pianist Hank Jones, bassist Ron Carter and drummer Tony Williams. The seven selections (four Bird compositions and three standards often played by Parker) are all given strong treatment by the quartet. Watanabe's true love is bebop and his solos here are very much in that tradition yet displaying a personality of his own.

A compelling performance… "Recorded live in the Great Hall of the Tchaikovsky State Conservatory at the 1st and 2nd rounds of the XI International Tchaikovsky Competition" in June 1998… by one of the era's most talented musicians. In his too-short life and altogether too-brief career, Mr. Sultanov engendered controversy and conflict in the music world with his take-no-prisoners style that demanded complete surrender, enchanting many and offending others, and, as a result, he was unfairly denied the acclaim and honors for which he strove, which he had every right to expect from us, and which he so richly deserved. In every performance (now, alas, recorded only), he offers a precious gift, as if to say, each time, "Here, take it, it's yours." Those who acknowledge and accept the gift are blessed by a new and greater understanding of what they hear, as though for the first time.