Cindy Blackman has proved herself as an accomplished percussionist who doesn't overdo it, but there's something missing from this outing. Although she has tenor saxophonist
Ravi Coltrane (who also doubles on soprano sax), pianist
Jacky Terrasson (who switches to the bland Fender Rhodes electric piano on several songs), and bassist
Ron Carter on hand (and none of them plays badly), most of her compositions, which make up the bulk of the CD, just don't hold one's interest. Once clear exception is the lively post-bop "Happy House." A treatment of rocker
Lenny Kravitz' "Let Love Rule" adds a bit of variety, though little else. Instead, check out
Blackman's earlier efforts for High Note and the now-defunct Muse. ~ Ken Dryden