snobb Super-trio album, "Skyline", reunites Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba with his American mentors - drummer Jack DeJohnette and acoustic bassist Ron Carter. Rubalcaba played with them in the late 90s, when he arrived to Miami from the Dominican Republic.

On "Skyline", all three musicians offer some of their previously played tunes. So, this album is more about collaboration and emotional colors than about really a new thing. The opener, "Lágrimas Negras"(traditional Cuban "Black Tears" from 20th) played as a bolero is an absolute winner. "Novia Mia" is another Cuban classic, dreamy and melancholic.

Still, the main album's flow is mainstream jazz, with swinging rhythm section and lots of groove. Ron Carter adds his "Gypsy" (originally released in 1979 on his album with Chick Corea) and “A Quiet Place” from his 1978 album, "A Song for You", (Jack DeJohnette played on the original version as well). DeJohnette offers “Silver Hollow”, originally recorded with his fusion project New Directions in 1978, and “Ahmad the Terrible” - his dedication to Ahmad Jamal. Rubalcaba's addition is “Promenade”, from his late 90s album, and “Siempre Maria” - another Cuban rhythm scented song, originally released by him in 1992. The album's closer, "RonJackRuba", is a bluesy improv, which was born right in the recording studio.

During the decades of the genre's existence, acoustic trio post bop experienced many ups and downs, and nowadays it is far not so noticeable and dominating as it was in late 60s or early 70s. Quite often new generations of jazz fans are more familiar with once widely influential fusion or more modern jazz sounds of the late 90s and New Millennium. Still it's post bop which is saving the jazz tradition till now, and sometimes it is undeservedly forgotten. "Skyline" is an album made by the genre's masters, reminding us how great this music can sound again.

snobb It's difficult to imagine what inspired Ron Carter to use John Williams' Star Wars compositions as material for his album. Possibly, combination of well-known tunes with some great jazz/fusion names on recordings sounded as commercially attractive project,who knows.

The result isn't as good as it was possibly expected.Musical material is really more pop-related,even if some moments of jazzy versions could be accepted as slightly interesting. Musicians collaborated are mostly great (including Billy Cobham on drums,Bob James on piano and Crusaders flautist Hubert Laws, who really is star of this recording), but the music played is only very average at its best.

Carter's bass line isn't impressive,but at least are competent (nothing sounds different from his other works of that time though). Cobham's drumming is light and enough jazzy, but again as almost every of participated musicians he sounds there more as studio session musician,paid by hours. In fact, all album's problem is team of really good musicians recorded uninspired market-oriented project and every listener can easily hear it.

Album for Star Wars' fans and Carter's collectors mostly.