For the CD reissue of this session, two selections were added to the original seven-song LP release. Pianist
Tommy Flanagan and bassist
George Mraz do not really stick to the plot of the title, playing a few bop standards that are neither blues nor ballads (such as "Scrapple from the Apple," "Star Eyes" and "How High the Moon"), in addition to some blues and ballads (most notably
Tom McIntosh's haunting "With Malice Toward None"). The intimate and mostly lightly swinging music is fine, but one does miss the momentum that would have been provided by a drummer. ~ Scott Yanow