Mostly recorded in Paris, with two additional tracks from New York, this absorbing collection is a testament to the continuing ability of
Ahmad Jamal to startle and engage jazz listeners who are tired of
Tyner/
Evans clones and want to hear something different. An equal mixture of standards and
Jamal compositions, some of which move through several contrasting sections, this CD reaches its peaks when
Jamal and company dive in and work around a single bass ostinato and a propulsive rhythm groove. Bassists James Cammack (Paris) and
Jamil Nasser (New York) provide the former, drummer
Idris Muhammad and percussionist
Manolo Badrena are in charge of the latter, and a tough-sounding
George Coleman turns up on tenor on the New York tracks. One fascinating quirk --
Jamal seemed fixated upon
Oliver Nelson's "Stolen Moments" at these sessions, for he quotes the tune several times on the album. These sessions were so fruitful that Verve was able to serve up a tasty second helping a year later. ~ Richard S. Ginell