Spirits and Warriors;

For his fourth Criss Cross recording, pianist Luis Perdomo offers a swinging affair, on which a crackling quintet of New York first-callers interprets 7 originals by the leader (the centerpiece is the well-wrought six-piece 'Spirits and Warriors Suite' that gives the CD its title), Clifford Jordan's iconic jazz standard 'Glass Bead Games,' and the classic ballad 'Portrait of Jenny. ' Propelled by drumgrandmaster Billy Hart and bassist Ugonna Okegwo, who lock in like life-long partners, tenor saxophonist Mark Shim and trumpeter Alex Sipiagin, a Criss Cross regular, uncork cogent solos, some inflamed, some nuanced.