My review of drummer Antonio Sanchez's New Life, today at All About Jazz.

Some people come out of the gate charging; others take a little time to make that record, the one where everything aligns to assert them as not just great players, but great writers and bandleaders as well. After two fine albums for Cam Jazz, Sanchez's New Life is that album. With an incendiary group - Dave Binney: alto saxophone; Donny McCaslin: tenor saxophone; John Escreet: piano, Fender Rhodes; Matt Brewer: acoustic and electric bass; Thana Alexa: voice - he's got a group ready for anything, and across his eight originals, that's exactly what he gets.

Sanchez's skill as a drummer has been clear since he first emerged with Pat Metheny Group in 2002 with Speaking of Now; but with New Life his compositional skill has take a major step forward, both in reach and multilayered depth. One of the year's best, despite it only being March.

Review here.