Branford Marsalis

The greatest saxophonist of his generation kicks things off with the blistering, Coltrane-style "Jack Baker" and then dives into an extended ballad called "Hope." The creativity just keeps flowing from there, with the set focusing on the interplay between Marsalis and his longtime band (the best in the business: Joey Calderazzo (piano), Jeff Watts (drums) and Eric Revis (bass)). One of 2006's best jazz albums.