Figment from QUINT5T by Marc Copland

“This might be one of the hardest tunes we play,” says Copland about Gress's composition, “and at the same time it's one of the most rewarding.” The chord movements, while they sound natural, are not easy to negotiate---nevertheless, Liebman and Brecker's solos sound almost effortless. The “hook,” like many pop music hooks, is a short repeated phrase with the same rhythm, but the complex chord it's based on is taken through six different keys. At the tune's end, a duet between the two horns devolves into an ethereal painting by Copland that marks the end of the take.

Marc Copland, recognized for his unique style, is a prolific jazz pianist and composer. A longtime resident of New York, he was a close collaborator for nearly a half century with both John Abercrombie and Gary Peacock.. He has released almost 40 lead and solo albums since 1988, and has been a sideman on dozens more.