Jimmy Heath is in top form throughout this quartet session, which took place on the day his elder sister died after a lingering illness. Backed by his brother
Albert "Tootie" Heath on drums, guitarist
Tony Purrone, and bassist
Kiyoshi Kitagawa, the tenor saxophonist revisits his fluid blues "The Quota" (which is very appropriately full of interesting quotes, displaying the leader's witty side) and debuts a new work, the enticing "Rio Dawn." He also delves into the works of other important jazz composers, including a lightly swinging treatment of
Duke Pearson's "Is That So?," a potent arrangement of
Blue Mitchell's lively calypso "Fungii Mama," and an extended workout of
Tadd Dameron's "Hot House" that features each of the musicians in the spotlight to good effect. But it is
Jimmy Heath's lush rendition of
Duke Ellington's ballad "All Too Soon" that leaves the most lasting impression on this outstanding date.