A member of vocalist
Abbey Lincoln's group at the time of this recording, this is pianist
Rodney Kendrick's debut as a leader. For this recording he has gathered several musical contemporaries playing in various combinations for a varied program of nine selections, including four written by
Kendrick and two written by pianist
Randy Weston, the African percussion-driven "Ganawa in Paris" and a beautiful trio reading of "Berkshire Blues." In addition to
Weston,
Thelonius Monk seems to be
Kendrick's other primary influence, as heard in his solos throughout this recording and his playful introduction to
Miles Davis' "Dig," a medium swinger based on "Sweet Georgia Brown" that features excellent contributions from alto saxophonist
Kenny Garrett and trumpeter
Roy Hargrove.
Garrett and
Hargrove also contribute mightily to
Kendrick's "Slide the World Into Place" and "Slick Exit," while cornetist
Graham Haynes and tenor saxophonist
Houston Person show their stuff on
Kendrick and Tarus Mateen's "The New World Is Ordered" and Tyler Mitchell's "Takin' It With Me." This is a very promising debut from an up-and-coming pianist. ~ Greg Turner