I keep a list of players I still have not seen live but would like to, a lot. Top of it at the moment is Noah Preminger whose After Life makes that desire even more urgent. Preminger is a powerful player and he has plenty of power to hand as well in his band playing a bunch of very coherent originals. With trumpeter Jason Palmer by his side — Palmer and Preminger together operate a bit like the way Dave Douglas and Joe Lovano communicate — Max Light is on guitar, Kim Cass plays bass, and Rudy Royston, best known for his work with Bill Frisell, is as vital as ever on drums. Preminger has another album out in the autumn... I will be keeping an eye out for it. But for now After Life is one of Criss Cross’ best releases in many a moon. SG.