One of only two sessions led by flügelhornist
Alan Shorter (
Wayne's older brother), this set (which was reissued as a 1998 CD) is a near-classic.
Shorter and his quartet (with tenor saxophonist
Gato Barbieri, either
Charlie Haden or
Reggie Johnson on bass, and Muhammad Ali or
Rashied Ali on drums) perform six of the leader's complex originals.
Barbieri lets out some strong screams in places but sounds more restrained and coherent than on his other avant-garde recordings of the period. The rhythm sections are stimulating and alert, while
Shorter, although not a virtuoso, comes up with consistently inventive ideas. The style is sometimes slightly reminiscent of
Ornette Coleman (partly due to the presence of
Haden), but
Shorter had apparently not heard
Ornette's band before recording this music. Well worth several listens. ~ Scott Yanow