In a dedication to the late bassist , returns to the recording studio armed with his no-compromise, no-nonsense way of playing the tenor saxophone. It's still as cutting-edge dour as ever, supported by the beautiful underpinnings of the trio, with mostly on piano instead of saxophone as he is more widely heard, the peerless bassist , and Afrocentric drummer/percussionist/leader . As dictated by the art of improvisors, much ground is covered, and a track-by-track rundown is warranted. The introductory is based on a floating piano, free-time excursion rife for 's tenor to express itself. is a rambling swinger with back to his tenor sax and on piano, the latter embellishing the melody with some -like flourishes. is a drop-dead gorgeous, mid-tempo meditative piece, sans , showcasing 's piano stylings. The 7/4 chant with on tenor sax plus bass and conga, has the collective group vocally echoing Harlem nocturnes about , and the closer is a definitive workout for , a robust swinger where his more melodic but still pungent sax sound revels in its own free-spirited, outspoken glory. To say is back would be shortsighted; he's always been around, especially as a teacher at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. This is a resolute affirmation of his powers, punctuating that he's still a vital force in the new music, as are his backup constituents on this very fine CD, a perfect introduction for the uninitiated and a must-buy for longtime fans. ~ Michael G. Nastos