Avery Sharpe, best known for his long association with
McCoy Tyner, is a superior bassist. On some of the selections on
Dragon Fly, he overdubs a second bass part and can be heard soloing like a guitar over his own accompaniment in a quartet that also includes pianist
Onaje Allan Gumbs and drummer
Winard Harper. Most of the other selections are trio numbers although there are two appearances by tenor-saxophonist
Chico Freeman and three vocals from
Jeri Brown with Athina heard on background vocals on "Swingfield."
Brown, who scats well on "My Favorite Things," is featured on "Change" in a duet with
Sharpe. But since
Sharpe is the dominant voice, the relaxed
Dragon Fly set is primarily of interest to lovers of the string bass. ~ Scott Yanow