by Eugene ChadbourneBassist and composer Parker released this thoughtful masterpiece originally in the mid-'90s. And hopefully this label or others will keep it in circulation because it is an important piece of music. In writing a series of songs dedicated to "someone or something that has inspired me to do my best as both a musician and a human being" as Parker writes, the composer has said something profound not only about human beings but about the nature of inspiration and the need for it. The 2001 re-release was marked with the sad death of vocalist Jeanne Lee in the form of a posthumous dedication; this music is so much like her work that it is at times uncanny. The songs are performed by two different duos and the contrast in singing styles is fascinating.