60. James Carter / Jurassic Classics (1994)

On Jurassic Classics, Carter embraces seven of the most preeminent tunes and treats them the way they want to be treated. It's not a statement of Carter's ideas, and less an honor to the composers than a celebration of the music's essence. The title is funny. Because time-wise these tunes are old, but through Carter's explorations, they live and demand respect on the same tier as their composers. Throughout, the leader does lengthy solos on soprano, alto and tenor sax. Craig Taborn (piano), Jaribu Shahid (bass), Tanni Tabbal (drums) perform seamlessly as a group. Taborn's frenetic and percussive piano keeps the blood up and frequently encourages Carter in wild, searching runs. Like Carter, Taborn is a talented player who coaxes many moods and textures out of his instrument. I like the group's mimicry of a train in "Take the 'A' Train." It's novel, but effective. "Equinox" is the album's game changer, Carter using extended techniques in fitful statements of power. Clifford Brown's "Sandu" is a swanky touch, so is the short but unforgettable "Oleo," which has roots with Mr. Rollins.