A common denominator across sets was the electrifying Steve Nelson. A true magician, in his hands mallets transform into feathery streaks of light (or, as during the first set Tuesday, simply fly away). He, too, should be seen as well as heard to appreciate the body language that informs his music. Throughout these sets but most noticeably in the final hour, Nelson and Rushen fit well together, filling space with deft, often unpredictable shifts in rhythm and dynamics.

For obvious reasons, Buster Williams is a favorite here and among fellow musicians. There are no "sidemen" or second fiddles here, just the very best in modern jazz who take turns in the driver's seat, give each other plenty of space to define the route and destination, and take their audience along on a magic carpet ride, sometimes gliding along in first-class comfort and sometimes encountering marvelous turbulence. I've caught my breath and now I want another ride.