Greg Osby - The Invisible Hand (2000)

Though chock full of Osby's signature brand of dissonance, The Invisible Hand is one of the altoist's mellower, more contemplative offerings. Its most novel aspect is the inclusion of pianist Andrew Hill and guitarist Jim Hall, two of jazz's fascinating elder statesmen. Hill's piano style is fractured and fragmented, yet suffused with its own ornamental beauty. Hall is a master of the understated, perfectly chosen phrase. Both have worked with Osby on more than one occasion. But The Invisible Hand is an historic first: prior to its recording, Hill and Hall had never played together. Disappointingly, the two are paired only on Hill's "Ashes" and Hall's "Sanctus"; otherwise, they appear separately. In fact, Hall is present only on three of the album's ten tracks, giving listeners only the briefest glimpse of his talents. Hill, appearing on six numbers, is utilized more effectively; the pianist is especially brilliant on Fats Waller's "Jitterbug Waltz." Gary Thomas, an Osby contemporary, overdubs multiple woodwinds to create thick orchestration on "Nature Boy," "With Son," and a couple of others. Bassist Scott Colley and drummer Terri Lynne Carrington provide reliable rhythmic support throughout. But overall the record suffers from a discontinuity brought about by repeated personnel shifts. In a sense, The Invisible Hand sounds like three different albums, and Osby's production seems unnecessarily convoluted. ~ by David R. Adler, AMG. 

Blue Note, 7243 5 20134 2 5, 2000
Recorded 8th-9th September, 1999 at Systems Two Recording Studios, Brooklyn, New York 

Musicians:
Greg Osby - Alto Saxophone, Clarinet
Gary Thomas - Flute, Flute [Alto], Tenor Saxophone
Andrew Hill - Piano
Jim Hall - Guitar
Scott Colley - Bass
Terri Lyne Carrington - Drums 

Tracks:
01. Ashes {Andrew Hill} (8:02)
02. Who Needs Forever? {Howard Greenfield, Quincy Jones} (5:10)
03. The Watcher {Greg Osby} (5:40)
04. Jitterbug Waltz {Richard Maltby, Jr., Fats Waller} (7:40)
05. Sanctus {Jim Hall} (7:39)
06. [Back Home Again In] Indiana {James F. Hanley, Ballard MacDonald} (4:32)
07. Nature Boy {Eden Ahbez} (8:44)
08. Touch Love {Andrew Hill} (6:00)
09. With Son {Greg Osby} (7:29)
10. The Watcher, No. 2 {Greg Osby} (4:22) 

Total Time: 65:20 

Credits:
Producer, Liner Notes - Greg Osby
Co-producer - Kay Vaughn
Recording & Mixing Engineer - Joseph Marciano
Engineer [Assistant] - Nancy Marciano
Mastering Engineer - Nicholas Prout
Photography [Session] - Jimmy Katz
Art Direction, Design - Burton Yount
Liner Notes - Ted Panken