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the mainstream fare of “Darn That Dream”and “The Feeling of Jazz,” the latter harkingback to Ellington’s meeting with Coltrane.Blake suggests what Ellington may haveheard in Monk or vice-versa with a nimblequote from “Trinkle Tinkle” during “TheFeeling Of Jazz” and shows that formativeinfluences on his own style may have comefrom Dexter Gordon (the phrasing in a snatchfrom “Laura”) and Stan Getz (the poiseddynamics at the end of “Dream,” which Blakekicks off with dramatic a cappella). Criticslike to mark these little reference points toprove we are listening, but from the applauseat the end of “The Feeling of Jazz,” theItalians are glad to be there while the realthing is happening. —Michael JacksonLive In Italy: Disc 1—The Jupiter Line; Way Out Willy; StringQuartet In G Minor; Fear of Roaming (52.89). Disc 2—TheFeeling of Jazz; Spacing; Ladeirinha; Darn That Dream; DanceMe Home (53.84).Personnel: Seamus Blake, tenor saxophone; David Kikoski,piano; Rodney Green, drums; Danton Boller, bass.»Ordering info: musiceyes.comSeamusBlake QuartetLive In ItalyJAZZ EYES 005AAAA 1 /2Some live recordings capture that extra pushthat comes when musicians face a receptiveaudience. It is a bonus when, as here, such circumstancesare also well-engineered by thesound man.Italy has long been welcoming to visitingU.S. jazz musicians, and they show the lovefor Blake and his bandmates at these dates inPalermo, Senigallia and Cesenatico. I doubtI’m the first to extrapolate “kick-ass-ki”from pianist David Kikoski, but he certainlywarrants the handle here. As superb atenorist as Blake is (and few will avoidinvoluntarily nodding, at the least, to the gloriouslyfunky feel of his altered saxophonesound on the party piece “Way Out Willy”),Kikoski solos with a massively energized,flawless articulation of his own, recalling thebuoyant joy of Herbie Hancock at times. It’simportant to emphasise that the success ofthis track would be impossible without thebouncy Astroturf laid down by RodneyGreen and Danton Boller.An abrupt mood change segues from “WayOut Willy” and the rugged opener “TheJupiter Line” to the second movement ofDebussy’s string quartet, which begins like anItalian country folk song and then leavesimpressionistic territory with Kikoski delvinginto more excavations. Blake’s “Fear OfRoaming” with its searching long tones whiffsof Kenny Garrett’s yearning esthetic, thenbreaks into swing sections. Like fellowThelonious Monk Competition honorees JoshRedman and Eric Alexander, Blake has thatliquid rhythmic flow and inexhaustiblepropulsion that sets him apart even when he’speppering with occasional Breckerisms.The second CD is a match for the first inits mix of material, including Brazilian singerDjavan’s melody “Ladeirinha,” Kikoski’s lapidary“Spacing,” a holdover from Blake’s oldboss John Scofield in “Dance Me Home” andAugust 2009 DOWNBEAT 59