Bjørnstad/Darling's first duet album "The River" was one of the runaway successes of our 1997 programme, described by the Sydney Morning Herald as "An unforgettable listening experience." On "Epigraphs", the frame of reference for the Norwegian pianist and the American cellist is the music of the Renaissance. Darling and Bjørnstad play arrangements of pieces by William Byrd, Orlando Gibbons, Guillaume Dufay, and Gregor Aichinger as well as compositions of their own, inspired by these old masters. The result is an extremely attractive, gentle, often slowly-moving music of great clarity.

If you already enjoy Bjornstad's work, simply go ahead and buy this. It has Palle Danielsson generating his usual warm,earthy bass, and Marilyn Mazur on some varied and sympathetic percussion. If all this is new to you, ask yourself what you're looking for. Is it a piano trio where nothing is rushed or frantic, where the notes are used sparingly, even lovingly, to enhance beguilingly simple melodies, which appear to float gently past you; where bass and percussion provide a burnished golden shimmer, like sunlight on a lazy river, while the piano provides sleepy drifts of melody, mixed with some icily crystal notes. This is not music to dance to, and preferably not to use as wallpaper, but as your own special personal treat, to sink into it alone and undisturbed, and feel it massage away your tensions and anxiety. Go on: spoil yourself.

This long-lost Lee Morgan session was not released for the first time until it was discovered in the Blue Note vaults by Michael Cuscuna in 1984; it has still not been reissued on CD. Originals by Cal Massey, Duke Pearson ("Is That So") and Walter Davis, in addition to a couple of surprising pop tunes ("What Not My Love" and "Once in My Lifetime") and Morgan's title cut, are well-played by the quintet (which includes the trumpeter/leader, Hank Mobley on tenor, pianist Cedar Walton, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Billy Higgins). Much of the music is reminiscent of The Jazz Messengers and that may have been the reason that it was lost in the shuffle for Morgan was soon investigating modal-oriented tunes. Despite its neglect, this is a fine session that Lee Morgan and hard bop fans will want.

Scott Yanow, All Music Guide

This single-disc collection of eight tracks selected by drummer and composer Jack DeJohnette form his ECM recordings as a leader and sideman must have been difficult to select, at the very least. DeJohnette's own recordings have covered so much ground, and featured so many of jazz's most illustrious players, that choosing even a representative sample is almost impossible. Yet a single disc is what you have. DeJohnette made his selections like a poet, ranging far and wide over his catalog, beginning with "Third World Anthem" from his 1984 Special Edition LP, and then jumping clear to 1997, with the beautiful "Jack In," before shooting back again with "Feebles, Fables and Ferns," to his participation on guitarist Mick Goodrick's In Pas(s)ing album. Thankfully, the glorious "How's Never," from the Gateway debut is here, as are two selections from Pictures. DeJohnette explains very eloquently his reasons for his picks in the liner notes, making this a one-of-a-kind package. Rarum, album for album, is really a fine series of recordings.

~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide