(Avant-Garde, Modern Jazz, Free Improvisation, World Fusion, Bop, Latin) Adam Cruz (w. Chris Potter, Miguel Zenon, Steve Wilson, Steve Cardenas, Ben Street, Edward Simon) - Milestone {Sunnyside SSC 1278, USA} - 2011, FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

Review:
By WILLIAM CAREY, Published: January 21, 2012
Inevitably, with the release of any recording done under a drummer's leadership, there is discussion over whether it is a drummer's record or not—understandable in that drummers are the great unsung heroes of most recordings and it is always exciting to have the opportunity to "give the drummer some," in the words of the great Maceo Parker. What this means however, is far from clear. Is it that the drummer has written the tunes or takes a lot of solo space—or perhaps it could mean that the timekeeper is leading the band through a workout of a myriad metric changes?
Perhaps the most well-known of modern jazz drummer-led bands is Art Blakey. Elements of the Blakey model are at work on drummer Adam Cruz's Milestone. First and foremost, he has assembled a great band. Art Blakey's The Jazz Messengers, throughout all of its various incarnations, were hot. Blakey lit a fire under them and trusted them to go. The same is true of the messengers assembled by Cruz for here/. The drums announce the beginning of the music and we're off. It doesn't take long for the boil to begin with tenor saxophonist Chris Potter and pianist Edward Simon performing brilliantly throughout.
Perhaps what makes for a drummer's record is nothing more than outstanding drumming? Cruz is the real deal, his bona fides will speak for themselves, and this record is no different. He plays with soloists effectively, has a seemingly endless arsenal of fills to play over vamps (a favorite Blakey-ism), and knows just when to bring the heat and when to cool it off a bit.
What makes this a truly special outing is the song selection: all original compositions, all penned by Cruz, all very solid. With melodic and harmonic interest and pretty ballads, Cruz demonstrates surprising depth and maturity for his debut as a leader. Whatever criteria might be used to define a drummer's record, this is it—and it is also just a very good record.

Monday, April 11, 2011
Adam Cruz MILESTONE Sunnyside Records
Sunnyside 2011
Drummer Adam Cruz does not politely knock on the door to announce his new release. Like "Nuke" LaLoosh from Bull Durham he kicks it in as to "announce my presence with authority" and that he does!
For this release Cruz hand picked the line up including: Chris Potter on Tenor Sax; Steve Wilson, Soprano Sax, Miguel Zehnon, Alto Sax, Steve Cardenas, electric guitar, Edward Simon, piano and Ben Street bass.
While every member of this all star ensemble gives standout performances; Chris Potter now has me convinced my Tenor Saxophone would be better served hanging on the wall of a TGI Fridays and Steve Cardenas deftly weaves his way in and out of several compositions with Pat Metheny like precision adding a marvelous texture to this release.
From a purely compositional standpoint Cruz is a beast; especially considering this is a debut album. What makes this recording work on every possible level is that while Cruz is the leader; as the press release quotes Cruz, " Music before drums"....
It is the ensemble that propels Cruz's work to the next level but make no mistake; Adam Cruz is the glue that holds this project together.
To give you a musical frame of reference think: Chick Corea, Danilo Perez, McCoy Tyner and Tom Harrell. Straight Ahead jazz on steroids; free improvisational music without ever losing sight of the basic groove Cruz lays down through out Milestone.
There is a constant under current of movement; forward motion, this recording is indeed alive!
Not ipod friendly; this recording is meant to be listened to while stationary as there are far too many subtle nuances occurring through out the disc.
This release excites me; a breath of fresh air, I love everything about it! A monster!
Avaunt guard yet accessible; Cruz is redefining straight ahead jazz with this stellar disc.
Buy or Sell?
BUY!
THIS RELEASE "STREETS" ON APRIL 12 2011!!!

CRUZ CONTROL
Drummer Adam Cruz has proven his worth as a sideman. Cruz worked for trumpeter Tom Harrell, saxophonists Pharaoh Sanders and Paquito D'Rivera. For 10 years, Cruz punched the clock in the Danilo Perez trio. Cruz has enough work experience under his belt now to be an effective session leader. Perez had a big influence on Cruz style of composing. Like Perez, Cruz writes abstract compositions. “Milestone”is Cruz's debut as the boss. He wrote eight originals for the album.
“Milestone” opens with a long composition “Secret Life”. Cruz hand stitched the composition to suit saxophonist Chris Potter. Potter is a blunt improviser, and he never backs down from challenging material. Cruz hired other like minded saxophonists the 2008 Guggenhiem and MacArthur fellow Miguel Zenon, and Steve Wilson, a featured soloist in the Maria Schneider Orchestra. The saxophonists generate excitement and are comfortable under Cruz’s supervision.
On “Resonance,” Zenon dispenses notes like a coin machine. Wilson plays jump rope with the chord changes on "Magic Ladder". Cruz is a self-less boss. His drumming style is laid-back like the great Blue Note session drummer Joe Chambers. Cruz only took a few quick solos on “Milestone”. After years of being a grunt, Cruz has deservingly moved to the next level.
Posted by Charles L. Latimer
http://idigjazz.blogspot.com/2011/04/cruz-control.html

Drummer/composer Adam Cruz has been a prominent member of the jazz world for some time through his association with the leading exponents of the music, including Chick Corea, Tom Harrell, and Patricia Barber. On Milestone, his debut recording as leader on Sunnyside Records, Cruz provides listeners with a strong and diverse program of original compositions that prove his range as a writer and performer. He has also gathered an ensemble of some of the most influential jazz musicians in support, including saxophonists Chris Potter, Steve Wilson, Miguel Zenon, guitarist Steve Cardenas, pianist Edward Simon, and bassist Ben Street.

05/20/11
Adam Cruz - Milestone (Sunnyside)
By Shaun Brady
Patience is a virtue of which Adam Cruz is amply possessed. The release of Milestone, the drummer’s debut CD as a leader, coincides with his 40th birthday, which also marks the 10th anniversary of his role alongside bassist Ben Street in pianist Danilo Perez’s trio.
The influence of that decade-long stint on Cruz’s writing is obvious in the eight vibrant, often-ambitious compositions that make up Milestone. But Cruz’s patience is manifest in the way he allows each piece to unfurl slowly, each section and solo seeming to dissolve into the next. The tunes tend to be long but maintain an intimacy; with the expanded time comes more room to breathe.
Cruz has assembled a stellar band for the date. Street was the obvious choice, and another long-term collaborator, Edward Simon, rounds out a rhythm section more concerned with laying a foundation than with driving relentlessly forward. Guitarist Steve Cardenas also plays a vital role, whether engaging with Simon to create the shimmering atmospheres of the dusky “Crepuscular,” or weaving spidery lines through the slinky grooves of “The Gadfly.”
The frontline is staffed by three gifted saxophonists: Chris Potter on tenor and either Miguel Zenón on alto or Steve Wilson on soprano. The opening tracks provide Potter and Zenón with fuel to embark on extended digressions—Potter off on a typically muscular tear through “Secret Life,” Zenón wending a more fleetly sinuous path into “Emjé.” Cruz obviously wanted this session to be all about the band, and his spare compositions stay out of the way, offering melodic fodder to instigate the soloists and the space and freedom with which to explore.

Editorial Reviews:
Drummer and composer Adam Cruz did not choose the title of his debut album lightly.
Milestone is both a professional and personal marker.
I've had a vision to do something with my composing for a long time, says Cruz. But I've also felt a certain ripening needed to happen. This is a big step for me. I've invested a lot of time in practicing and studying, working at my relationship with the piano and developing a compositional voice. I ve just turned 40 and I m happy the record is coming out now. There s a certain amount of growth and maturity that I have gone through, deepening my dedication as a drummer and composer, particularly over the last decade.
Comprising eight original compositions, and featuring a true all star band including Miguel Zenón, alto sax; Steve Wilson, soprano sax; Chris Potter, tenor sax; Steve Cárdenas, electric guitar; Edward Simon, piano, and Ben Street, bass, Milestone, which was made possible by a grant by the Aaron Copland Recording Fund, marks a before and after in Cruz s development as an artist.
This wasn't something I put together in a few months, where I wrote a few tunes, theme-solos-theme, and went to the studio, says Cruz. I've been watering the seeds over the years, sitting at the piano and going through much trial and error. We all have a tendency to rush things to try to just get them done, and for me it was important to take time to see what was there. I tried to listen for when something felt true, and original.
Customer Review:
5.0 out of 5 stars - Great Debut Album with Fantastic Band - October 3, 2011
By: Jonathan Guarriello
Here we have the debut solo album from veteran jazz drummer Adam Cruz. Titled Milestone says Adam because composing an entire album of original material was indeed a milestone in his career as a musician & composer. Adam has been playing on the NYC jazz scene performing with the top names in the field such as Chick Corea's Origin Band & Danilo Perez. The band assembled here to breathe life into Cruz's compositions is made up of NYC finest.
Chris Potter on tenor in my opinion one of the freshest voices on tenor to come along since Mike Brecker. On alto sax is Steve Wilson a 30yr veteran of the jazz scene, has worked with Adam alot having also been a member of Corea's band Origin. Also on alto is Miguel Zenon a past winner of the esteemed "Genius" grant & current member of the awesome SF Jazz Collective who just released their newest live disc featuring the music of Stevie Wonder. Edward Simone on piano has worked alot with Adam, also a very active leader & sideman on the NYC jazz scene. Steve Cardenas on electric guitar in my opinion one of the most unique guitar voices in jazz & a veteran of groups led by bassist Ben Allison, Steve plays textural patches of sound with rich & unusual chord voicings. Holding it all together is bassist Ben Street who has played alongside Adam in more than one band during his fruitful career as a jazz & latin jazz bassist.
The eight pieces on Milestone were all written by Cruz & they are complex rich works with the three horn section of Potter, Wilson & Zenon really shining as well as many stand out solos by each sax man. The music in my opinion is a hybrid of modern post bop with subtle hints of latin jazz, funk & world music but I wouldn't label this as fusion, no this is cutting edge modern jazz! Some musical high points for me are track four "The Gadfly" a funky grooving piece with a snake like melody & stand out solos by guitarist Cardenas & Cruz takes a musical drum solo over a tricky vamp. Track 5 "Resonance" is a meditative piece that is almost rubato for the first two minutes as Edward Simone plays a beautiful Bill Evans like piano intro till the rhythm section enters one by one & establish time for a rich classical type three part theme stated by the horns. Outer Reaches is the closest piece to "fusion" in the set but it may be my personal favorite, Simone adds a Fender Rhodes to compliment his acoustic piano which is a nice touch. This song has a head nodding groove with Steve Cardenas turning up the volume alittle bit sounding to my ears like Adam Rogers with Chris Potter's Underground & Ben Street laying down funky ostinatos & interactive basslines. Well there you have it Adam Cruz's first solo album Milestone. I hope you've found the review informative & maybe you've decided to go ahead & check it out. Support Jazz in America.