Although
Carmen McRae is the obvious star of her live record (which has been reissued on CD), she gives plenty of solo space to her notable all-star band (
Red Holloway on tenor and alto, organist
Jack McDuff, guitarist
Phil Upchurch, bassist
John Clayton, and drummer
Paul Humphrey).
McRae did not record in this context with an organ group very often. All seven songs (which range in length from four minutes to the nine-and-a-half-minute title track) are swing-era standards except for
Eubie Blake's "My Handy Man Ain't Handy No More," which dates back to the early '20s, but
McRae updates them a bit and makes them sound relevant and swinging. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow