(Origin Records)

In 2008, multi-reed instrumentalist Geof Bradfield was a member of a month-long musical tour of the African countries of Rwanda, Uganda, Congo and Zimbabwe sponsored by the U.S. State Department and Jazz at Lincoln Center. It was part of a program to take American music abroad. Bradfield, however, received as much as he gave to the experience, soaking in a great deal of African music while on the tour. African Flowers is the product of his inspiration. The project is a suite of nine songs and several solo interludes all written by the Chicago-based musician. Bradfield’s saxophone playing is as rich and warm as the songs he composed. The performances of his bandmates are high quality, as well. The project features Victor Garcia on trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion and congas, Jeff Parker on guitar, Ryan Cohan on piano, Clark Sommers on bass, and George Fludas on drums. This is a truly outstanding recording.