"Trumpeter Cuong Vu has a lengthy history with Metheny that goes back to "Speaking of Now" (2002). Since then, Vu has played with the guitarist at his more adventurous contemporary works. Despite having graduated from the New England Conservatory and worked with a.o. David Bowie, Myra Melford, and Laurie Anderson, Vu is a maverick. A highly gifted, forward-thinking musician, Vu often eschews the more clarion, declarative aspects of trumpet playing in favor of macabre growls, dampened tones, and madly skittering improvisatory lines. Pairing him with Metheny might seem like an odd choice. Metheny is known more for his warm tone and clean lines than downtown N.Y.C. edginess. However, he is also a mutative artist whose skills bridge wide stylistic plains. It's also easy to forget that Metheny played on Ornette Coleman's "Song X" (1986), an album of frenetic yet deceptively restrained free jazz that works as a useful touchstone for what Vu and Metheny have created here." (Matt Collar, Allmusic; 4 uit 5 sterren)
1ste CD, uit 2000 van Vietnamees-Amerikaanse trompettist/jazzvernieuwer. Jim Black legt met mathematische precisie heftige complexe ritmes neer (a la AKA Moon, Steve Coleman), basis voor creatief Fender Rhodes-spel en intense trompetnoten.
3de CD, uit 2001, van de trompettist die met de Japanse bassist Stomu Takeishi en drummer John Hollenbeck, abstract-sferische structuren neerlegt, waarbij Vu's trompet gedoopt is in wolken delay-effecten over o.a. intrigerende baspatronen.
