Many of drummer
Louis Hayes
' recordings as a leader have been recorded for European-based labels, so they have not gotten the attention they deserve in his native country, the United States. His sextet for this 1989 session includes pianist
Kenny Barron
, brother
Gerald Hayes
on alto sax, trumpeter
Charles Tolliver
, tenor saxophonist
John Stubblefield
, and bassist
Clint Houston
, all of whom are in excellent form. Surprisingly,
Houston
contributed most of the originals to the date, including the exotic, swirling opener,
"El Cid,"
the brisk
samba
"Geri,"
and the more easygoing
"Saudade."
The bassist and the leader collaborated on the
hard bop
vehicle
"Una Max,"
a cooker that presumably could be a tribute to
Max Roach
, though there are no liner notes to give details about the background of each composition.
Tolliver
wrote the adventurous
Latin
theme
"Ruthie's Heart,"
which showcases
Hayes
' capabilities very well.
Barron
's
"Ibis"
is the most lyrical original of the date, while an extended workout of the bittersweet
standard
"You Don't Know What Love Is"
provides a breather from
rhythms. This rewarding date is worthy of wider recognition. ~ Ken Dryden