Long before he switched to playing disco and pop music,
Roy Ayers
was considered a promising young jazz vibraphonist. This LP, his second as a leader, was one of his finest. On four of the five selections (obscurities and pieces by group members),
Ayers
teams up with trumpeter
Charles Tolliver
, tenor saxophonist
Joe Henderson
, bassist
Reggie Workman
, drummer
Bruno Carr
, and the mysterious pianist
Ronnie Clark
(
Herbie Hancock
under a disguised name). On
"Glow Flower,"
and
Tolliver
are joined by
Harold Land
on tenor, pianist
Jack Wilson
Buster Williams
, and drummer
Donald Bailey
. The music is primarily advanced hard bop with some freer moments on
's
"The Ringer."
This underrated music is long overdue to be reissued on CD and displays
' long before he was known as an R&B artist. ~ Scott Yanow