Vantage Point

Simon Phillips is now my new favorite drummer, alongside Dave Weckl and Dennis Chambers, and the list goes on!! But, I'm used to hearing him rock out with his group Protocol, but he's an amazing Jazz drummer. WOW!!! I came across this while searching for more Simon Phillips music. Albeit this one is older, but man what a great Bebop, Big Band CD. I totally respect artists such as Simon Phillips. Jeff Babko is great on this recording as well. I never heard of him before this recording but now I'm going to look for more music from him. It's always great to come across music like this as a surprise. I can't wait to share with my Dad!!!

ANYTHING Simon Phillips performs on is going to be Incredible!! Anything. Period.

What a joy to hear simon phillips playing pretty straight ahead jazz, and the tribute to john Coltrane live is beautifully done, worth picking up, and I would like to see them do another cd soon, Curtis cobb

Fantastic jazz album. Superb musicianship and outstanding sound quality.

I was awed by Simon Phillips' drumming back in the late 70's when he played with Phil Manzanera's 801 ( 801 Live  and  Listen Now ) at just 19 yrs old. And yet over the years I lost touch with his work (solo, as well as an in demand session player), and before recently getting this recording I'd never heard of pianist Jeff Babko. So I'm pleasantly surprised by this album from 2000, and glad to be catching up with Phillips' nimble understated virtuosic drumming.While most of these tunes are composed by Babko and Phillips, alone and in collaboration, they sound like they'd fit right in to the 60's Blue Note era - a straight ahead jazz sound that also reminds me a lot of Zappa's early 70's bop/big band recordings (both Phillips and trumpeter Walt Fowler played a bit with FZ). While not especially original sounding the music here is full and fluid and the playing masterful - from both Babko and Phillips as well as Dave Carpenter on bass, Brandon Fields on tenor and soprano sax, and Fowler on trumpet and flugelhorn. The studio recording quality is excellent, but for me the highlight is the final track; an almost 16 minute live version of Freddie Hubbard's "Spirits of Trane", which gives both Phillips and Babko ample opportunity to show their chops.Overall an enjoyable listen. 4+ stars.

With this album, Simon Phillips reinvents himself. On one hand, he completely leaves the path of his previous albums that, to me, could clearly be considered Jazz Fusion and turns to "old fashioned" jazz. On the other hand, Simon continues to play his instrument in a truly artistic manner. However, without lessening his impact, a lot of praise needs to go to co author and pianist Jeff Babko, as well as Walter Fowler and Brandon Fields.This album may not be appreciated by those who specifically went for the Fusion aspect, but should in my opinion be able to gain a much wider audience in the Classic Jazz audince.My personal favorites: Vantage Point and the fantastic live track Spirits of Trane.

A great, great album. They are really cookin' here. A modal hard bop blowin date, with a remarkable "new" pianist, Jeff Babko. All the other musicians excell too, obviously.A cd that I can't stay too much far from.This album smokes! Buy it, don't hesitate.

la technique n'étouffe pas la composition, le jeu est excellentcet album parlera bien sur aux batteurs amateurs de jazz, et séduira par son homogénéité dans la qualité des morceaux