Thomas Chapin Aliveby George Lane, gmn.com

If extraordinary multi-reedman/flautist Thomas Chapin were on the scene in the 60s or 70s his rightful place as a Jazz great would be secure. But in the revisionist, conservative 90s, Thomas instead became a beacon of the music’s true potential and a reminder that the innovation, virtuosity and passion that has always been fundamental to Jazz, was not yet completely dead among its younger players.

Now that Thomas is no longer with us, having succumbed to leukemia in 1998, all we have left are his recorded works and the memory of his incredible live performances for those of us fortunate enough to have been present at one. Fortunately, New York City’s throwback to the 70s loft scene, The Knitting Factory, provided Chapin both a home base of operations and a record company, issuing seven separate CDs recorded between 1990-96.

Now, in tribute to his legacy, they have collected all of these CDs plus an additional 1992 concert (an enhanced CD that includes video footage from the 1995 JVC Festival) in an 8-CD set called “Alive.” Beautifully produced, with plentiful photographs and each CD sleeve a color reproduction of some of Thomas’ gorgeous collages, this set is a labor of love, painstakingly produced by the Knitting Factory and Chapin’s wife, Terri Castillo-Chapin.

Featuring his spectacular trio of bassist Mario Pavone and percussionist Michael Sarin (Steve Johns is one two CDs), the music is consistently exciting, urgent and filled with a synergistic spontaneity that is nothing short of amazing. Chapin’s musicianship is incredible – explosively lyrical, articulate and personal. His extraordinary compositional skills notable on the trio pieces are especially outstanding on the augmented ensemble recordings “Insomnia” (with brass) and “Haywire” (with strings).

Much of the material was recorded live, capturing the tremendous interplay and palpable sense of adventure and creativity that abounded at his concerts, including the new CD, a fine performance at the University of California, Davis on a Knitting Factory tour.

Although Thomas is no longer present, “Alive” is a perfect title because he will always be with us in his fantastic music.