The concept of "inside/outside" is not limited to and ; in can also be found in everything from screamo (also known as or melodic ) to melodic and symphonic . But musicians, more than anyone, have perfected that integration of the sane and the insane -- that ability to combine the extreme with the not-so-extreme and make it all come together in a logical, coherent fashion. Recorded in December 2002, is a rewarding example of 's ability to skillfully pull together the inside and the outside. This / date (which finds the veteran tenor man joined by a rhythm section as well as ten string players) is many different things. There are moments of abstraction -- moments when 's playing is dissonant, cerebral, difficult, and angular. But there are other times when (who was 47 when was recorded) is relatively accessible and quite melodic; sometimes recalls the lyrical side of , and there are hints of at times. has its share of appeal, but some parts of this 63-minute CD are peaceful, tranquil, and downright comforting -- even lush on occasion. And lush is certainly doable when you have ten string players on hand. There are many worthwhile albums in 's sizable catalog, and is likely to go down in history as one of his strongest recordings of the 2000s. ~ Alex Henderson