For
Louis Hayes' first domestic release in nearly 20 years the veteran drummer assembled a group consisting of tenor saxophonist
Javon Jackson, trumpeter
Riley Mullins, pianist
David Hazeltine, and bassist
Santi Debriano, took them into the studio, and recorded this collection of no-nonsense, high energy hard bop. Best known for his stints in the groups of
Horace Silver (1956-59) and
Cannonball Adderley (1959-65),
Hayes is at his cymbal ridin', snare drum poppin' best, and the other musicians are up to the task, with
Mullins' go-for-broke, high note filled solos giving
Louis at Large much of its flavor. Favorites include the uptempo burners "Check In" written by
Mullins and
Hayes, and
Mullins' "Hen and Hub," dedicated to
Hayes' former bandmates
Joe Henderson and
Freddie Hubbard, the bop blues "Teef," which also appeared on
Hayes' self-titled 1960 debut recording, and an uptempo arrangement of the standard "My Old Flame," with a medium tempo bridge throughout. This a welcome return to an American label for
Hayes. ~ Greg Turner