Terence Blanchard is in top form throughout this highly enjoyable outing. The trumpeter is most memorable on "Dear Old Stockholm" (a song from the 1950's that he helped revive), an emotional "When It's Sleepy Time Down South" and a medley of his "Glass J," the theme from "Mo' Better Blues" and
Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman."
Blanchard, who also plays "Detour Ahead" and four of his originals, is joined by tenor-saxophonist
Sam Newsome, pianist
Bruce Barth, bassist
Rodney Whitaker, either
Troy Davis or
Billy Kilson on drums and (on "Dear Old Stockholm") the up-and-coming altoist
Antonio Hart. The music is tied to the hard bop tradition yet is quite fresh and open to more modern influences. Recommended.