Flautist
Mark Weinstein made his recording debut as a leader in the late 1960s, though he left music to become a college professor, returning in the mid-'90s to record on a regular basis. This session with three veterans, guitarist
Dave Stryker, bassist
Ed Howard, and drummer
Victor Lewis, is one of
Weinstein's best efforts. The standard "Invitation" takes on a different air with
Weinstein's intimate yet swinging arrangement. The quartet tackles several familiar jazz works, offering a lighthearted romp through
Sonny Rollins' "Airegin" and a hip "Straight, No Chaser" which utilizes bass flute. The originals are strong as well.
Weinstein's "Loverin'" is a rapid-fire reworking of the standard "Lover," while his "Blues for Janice" has a strong
John Coltrane influence.
Stryker switches to acoustic guitar for his two compositions, which include the subtle "Crianza" and the hypnotic "Shanti." Highly recommended.