For this interesting sextet date, a variety of top musicians got together under drummer
Lenny White's direction to revive seven hard bop tunes, mostly dating from the 1960s. The liner notes let listeners know that this music's comeback is a result of the acid jazz-dance movement but, except for the fact that bassist
Ron Carter and drummer
White are mixed a bit higher than they would have been three decades previously, the music generally avoids being altered or watered down. The most surprising aspect of the date is that trumpeter
Tom Browne finally gets a chance to play jazz (as opposed to his usual commercial funk) and he is in fine form. Altoist
Donald Harrison is an asset on three of the songs, while
Bennie Maupin switches between tenor, soprano, and bass clarinet; he remains one of the best on the latter. Pianist
Billy Childs completes the group and sounds like he is enjoying himself on such numbers as
Lee Morgan's "Cornbread," "Freedom Jazz Dance," "Jive Samba," and "Comin' Home Baby." Although no great innovations occur, the net result is pleasing and soulful, making this a set that hard bop collectors will want. ~ Scott Yanow