It seems remarkable that
Arturo Sandoval never seems to win any jazz polls, for few trumpeters can come close to equaling his technique, jazz chops, and warm sound. On this advanced hard bop date, the music is strictly straight-ahead without any Latin rhythms.
Sandoval matches wits quite successfully with clarinetist
Eddie Daniels on two songs, tenor great
Michael Brecker on three (including a memorable rendition of "Moment's Notice"), and veteran flügelhornist
Clark Terry on a joyous "Mack the Knife." In addition,
Sandoval pays tribute to
Woody Shaw,
John Coltrane, and
Dizzy Gillespie. Other highlights include the moody "Streets of Desire" (on which
Sandoval plays piano), the racehorse tempo of "Real McBop" (which has an impossible but impeccably played melody chorus), and
Sandoval's humorous use of the plunger mute on "It Never Gets Old." All in all, this is one of
Arturo Sandoval's finest recordings to date. ~ Scott Yanow