On his fourth
Criss Cross
release, trumpeter
Jim Rotondi
enlists alto saxophonist
Mike DiRubbo
for his front line, sending his usual partner,
Eric Alexander
, on furlough. The alto/trumpet color has deep historical resonance, being the sound that introduced
bebop
to the world.
Rotondi
and
DiRubbo
, along with their bandmates
Anthony Wonsey
on piano,
John Webber
on bass, and
Willie Jones III
on drums, are steeped in this tradition, as well as the
hard bop
of later years. Their command of the music comes through strongly on covers of
Cedar Walton
's intricate
bossa
"N.P.S.,"
Jimmy Rowles
' classic
ballad
"The Peacocks,"
Walter Davis, Jr.
's blistering rhythm changes tune
"Davis Cup,"
Joe Henderson
's easygoing 16-bar
blues
"Step Lightly."
Three band originals lead off the record, however, beginning with
's fast
"Skip's Blues"
(with a truncated form) and continuing with
's 3/4
Latin
title track and
Wonsey
's slightly
gospel
-tinged
"Lenny's Lens."
For good measure,
includes (and plays fluegelhorn on) a
arrangement of
Carole King
's
"It's Too Late."
He dedicates the album to his father, who passed away roughly one month before the recording date. ~ David R. Adler