This is the first album as a leader for the very experienced bass player David Finck, who has been a valuable sideman on many recordings in many different musical settings. For this maiden voyage has assembled a very sympathetic core group of players, of which piano player Tom Ranier was the unknown factor for me personally. He has a great rapport with vibes player Joe Locke and do not get into each other's way with their respective instruments. Joe LaBarbera is a great stimulus for the group at the drumkit, being active but not overactive.
I bought this album simultaneously with Joe Locke's own Sticks & Strings album, which also features Joe LaBarbera on drums. This album comes through stronger though, not the least because this album has a much better, more clear and transparent, recording quality. There is a great variety of good tunes, mostly original material, but with the old chestnut Nature Boy getting a refreshing 5/4 treatment. All in all, it is a wonderful record to both listen attentively to and to be able to play when others are around, as it is a very musical album, without getting boring. This is honest music and you can really hear and feel that the musicians play for the music. Mainstream jazz does not get much better than this in my opinion. Highly recommended.
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