It is surprising how artistically productive altoist
Arthur Blythe was during his period on Columbia. Despite the hype and Columbia's reputation for pressuring artists to play mass-appeal music,
Blythe's recordings for that label are inventive and creative. For this, his third Columbia release,
Blythe uses two different groups: an "in the tradition" quartet with pianist
John Hicks, bassist
Fred Hopkins, and drummer
Steve McCall, and a more eccentric unit with guitarist
James Blood Ulmer, cellist
Abdul Wadud, tuba player
Bob Stewart, and drummer
Bobby Battle. No matter the setting, the distinctive alto of
Blythe is heard in top form on six of his unusual originals. It's recommended.