By 1983, the quartet was at a musical peak, and this may be their best recording. Everything gels: The choice of tunes, the solos, and the arrangements all come together to produce one of the leading post-bop albums of the 1980s.
Adams and
Pullen perform magnificently and soulfully on "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen," while the other three originals by pianist
Don Pullen and two by
Adams include a lengthy tribute to
Charles Mingus and a shorter one for
Thelonious Monk. Thankfully, there are no vocals by
Adams. When these fellows get it right, as they do here, there is a synergy and energy that just can't be beat.
Adams soars on tenor, building to a frenzied crescendo without losing control, while
Pullen is right at his side. Drummer
Dannie Richmond and bassist Cameron Brown seem inspired by the date. ~ Steven Loewy