Roscoe Mitchell - In Walked Buckner (LP)

Dive into the avant-garde jazz scene with Roscoe Mitchell's "In Walked Buckner," a captivating album released in 1999 on the Delmark label. This eight-track masterpiece, recorded in Chicago in 1998, showcases Mitchell's prowess as a saxophonist and one of jazz's premier composers. The album features the Roscoe Mitchell Quartet, with Mitchell leading the charge alongside multi-instrumentalist Gerald Oshita and vocalist Thomas Buckner, who Mitchell previously collaborated with in a daringly different trio.

"In Walked Buckner" alternates between laid-back, ethereal moments and non-compromising improvisation, offering a rich and varied listening experience. The album opens with the expansive "Off Shore," a 11-minute exploration that sets the tone for the rest of the record. Other standout tracks include the title track "In Walked Buckner" and the intriguing "Squeaky." The album also features the multi-part "The Le Dreher Suite," demonstrating Mitchell's compositional depth and the quartet's collective virtuosity.

With a runtime of just over an hour, "In Walked Buckner" is a testament to Roscoe Mitchell's enduring influence on the jazz world. Whether you're a seasoned jazz enthusiast or new to the genre, this album offers a compelling journey through the boundaries of free jazz and avant-garde music.