As a pianist, and composer, John Polito is superb. Listening to his style and solo work on such songs as "Spanish Rain" and "Safe Passage" certainly assure him a place as one of the new voices of jazz piano.

There are 10 selections on this CD, "Euphoria," "Spanish Rain," "Time and Space," "Aurora Alegre," "Walk in the Clouds," "Union," "In Motion," "Heaven Knows," "Safe Passage," and "Home." All music is composed by John Polito.

The selection titled "Home," with a playing time of 4:22 minutes, reveals John Polito as a gifted, original stylist with attention to melody and note. You can feel what he is doing at the keys, and share in his creative vision. This is a jazz artist who is in love with music and shares that feeling with the audience.

"Heaven Knows," with a playing time of 5:12 minutes, is a remarkable and memorable song with John Polito at piano and Ramiro Belgardt on cello. With the intricate "In Motion," with a playing time of 5:21 minutes, new ground is opened in contemporary jazz motifs as Polito and Belgardt are joined with Charlie Bisharat on violin. This is a classic trio piece with a classic sound.

Another song to surprise and delight listeners is "Union," with a playing time of 5:04 minutes, featuring the unusual and highly rewarding sounds of John Polito on piano and Ramiro Belgardt on cello. One of my favorites on this collection is a song titled "Time and Space," a gem of a jazz song!

There is much to say about CROSSING THE LINE, and it can be summed up in a few words of analysis --- CROSSING THE LINE is an original, it is a contemporary jazz classic, and one of the finest CD releases to come along in the year 2001. If you want to hear a classic, give this one a listening to, and be prepared for some fresh, innovative contemporary jazz.

Every musician on CROSSING THE LINE performs flawless, perfect solo work. Five stars all the way. A contemporary jazz classic!