Jon Ballantyne, a fine hard bop pianist from Canada, is teamed with bassist
Drew Gress and drummer
Billy Hart on this early Justin Time release.
Ballantyne performs five of his originals plus
Charles Mingus' "Duke's Choice,"
Joe Henderson's "Serenity," "Monk's Mood," "Ornithology," and "I Fall in Love Too Easily." The communication between the players is impressive, the music mostly swings, and
Ballantyne shows individuality in his playing within the straight-ahead jazz tradition. Well worth checking out. ~ Scott Yanow