Although early in his career tenor saxophonist
Steve Grossman showed off the strong influence of
John Coltrane (particularly when he was in
Elvin Jones' group), by the time he recorded
Bouncing With Mr. A.T. in 1989 he sounded very close to
Sonny Rollins. Showcased in a pianoless trio with bassist
Tyler Mitchell and drummer
Art Taylor,
Grossman shows that he is quite capable of playing lengthy improvisations that never lose one's interest. Often building his solos from the melodies of the pieces,
Grossman thoughtfully comes up with one fresh idea after another, performing music that is unpredictable but ultimately logical. Even though his sound is not his own, this is one of the finest all-round recordings of
Grossman's career. ~ Scott Yanow