Circa is an album by American composer and pianist Michael Cain

Michael Cain

Michael Cain is a pianist and composer.- Biography :Michael Cain first started playing the piano at the age of four and was quickly improvising and composing...

 with trumpeter Ralph Alessi

Ralph Alessi

Ralph Alessi is a jazz trumpeter and composer originally from San Rafael, California, probably better known for being a member of bands led by saxophonist Steve Coleman...

 and saxophonist Peter Epstein recorded in 1996 and released on the ECM label.

Reception

The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow

Scott Yanow

Scott Yanow is an American jazz commentator, known for many contributions to the Allmusic website, for writing ten books on jazz and for reviewing jazz recordings for over 30 years.-Biography:...

 awarded the album 4 stars stating "Ranging from what sounds like chamber music (it is often difficult to determine when the musicians are improvising) to stretched-out long tones and heated sections, this episodic and continually intriguing music is never predictable and rewards repeated listenings".

Track listing

All compositions by Michael Cain except as indicated

1. "Siegfried and Roy" - 1:26
2. "Social Drones" (Ralph Alessi) - 2:46
3. "Ped Cruc" - 3:27
4. "Miss M." (Alessi) - 6:22
5. "Circa" - 4:20
6. "Egg" - 6:08
7. "Top O' the Dunes" - 7:19
8. "And Their White Tigers" - 4:32
9. "Red Rock Rain" - 4:55
10. "The Suchness of Dory Philpott" (Alessi, Cain) - 4:09
11. "Marche" (Alessi) - 8:20

Personnel

• Michael Cain
  Michael Cain
  Michael Cain is a pianist and composer.- Biography :Michael Cain first started playing the piano at the age of four and was quickly improvising and composing...
  
   - piano
  Piano
  The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
  
  
• Ralph Alessi
  Ralph Alessi
  Ralph Alessi is a jazz trumpeter and composer originally from San Rafael, California, probably better known for being a member of bands led by saxophonist Steve Coleman...
  
   - trumpet
  Trumpet
  The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
  
  , flugelhorn
  Flugelhorn
  The flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore. Some consider it to be a member of the saxhorn family developed by Adolphe Sax ; however, other historians assert that it derives from the valve bugle designed by Michael Saurle , Munich 1832 , thus...
  
  
• Peter Epstein - soprano saxophone
  Soprano saxophone
  The soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
  
  , tenor saxophone
  Tenor saxophone
  The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...