Saxophonist Richard Cole's A Glance Back is progressive jazz which explores a wide range of musical styles and moods with passion and searching honesty. Combining the unbridled energy of rock with the demanding musicality of classic Jazz. A Glance Back is exciting music that breaks the rules at the same time as it honors the masters. The songs of A Glance Back are both fiery and contemplative, mixing unforgettable original compositions with timeless standards (including even a jazz rendition of the popular hymn 0 Come, 0 Come Emmanuel). And while Richard Cole shows his versatile virtuosity by moving among tenor sax, soprano sax and the electronic wind instrument, the Yamaha WX7, this is an album with a unique, unified "sound" provided by its saxophone/guitar front line joined by a premiere jazz rhythm section. Daring, daunting and deeply satisfying, there is no better way to see how jazz is renewing itself than by taking A Glance Back.

Richard Cole ranks among the most in-demand musicians in the burgeoning jazz scene in the Pacific Northwest. Besides work with such jazz greats as Dave Holland and Julian Priester, he has toured regularly with fusion star Dan Siegel, performed with r&b legends Gladys Knight The Temptations and The Four Tops while also composing and performing his own music. While Richard's music is clearly jazz, following forward from the intense Coltrane tradition, it is enriched by the many lessons learned from his wide range of musical experiences. Richard is heard here with his long time band: guitarist Dave Peterson, pianist John Hansen, bassist Jeff Johnson and drummer John Bishop (plus twin brother trumpeter Ron Cole on one cut), each a "first call" player in what Is coming to be known as "Seattle's other music scene". A Glance Back is Richard Cole's first recording as a leader.

- Andrew Freund