Down With It is a fairly standard bop and soul-jazz session from
Blue Mitchell. Leading a quintet that features a young
Chick Corea on piano, tenor saxophonist
Junior Cook, bassist
Gene Taylor, and drummer
Al Foster,
Mitchell creates a laid-back atmosphere which makes R&B covers like "Hi-Heel Sneakers" or the lite bossa nova of "Samba De Stacy" roll along nicely. Just as often, the record is so relaxed that it fails to generate much spark, but each the soloists have fine moments that makes the session worthwhile for jazz purists. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine