Although trumpeter Jim Seeley co-leads the quintet on this Zoho CD with pianist
Arturo O'Farrill, he is very much the dominant force. Seeley contributed all eight selections and is the most memorable soloist in the group. The music includes a tribute to
Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers ("Truth Juice"), a few funky jazz pieces, the straight-ahead blues "New Meaning," and a brief unaccompanied trumpet solo ("Child's Toy"). Seeley teams up with the underrated tenor saxophonist and flutist
Jed Levy and the rhythm section of the Lincoln Center Afro-Latin Orchestra (pianist
O'Farrill, bassist Andy Gonzalez, and drummer Phoenix Rivera). The music is not as Latin-oriented as one would expect from this personnel and can be considered hard bop with funk overtones. Most importantly, this CD introduces Jim Seeley as a potentially major new trumpeter and a rare jazz export from Kansas. ~ Scott Yanow