This release for the 76-year-old baritone saxophonist does not fare as well as and , primarily because his tone is thin and edgier than his partners, trombonist and the wonderful tenor saxophonist . However, this is still a pretty good CD with nearly 73 minutes of vibrant, swinging modern jazz from the aforementioned horn players and especially the ever brilliant pianist . The first four cuts are originals. is a bopper with strident trombone, fluttery tenor, and 's dour accents. is a poignant, regretful ballad replete with 's regal piano, 's tart and sweet bari, and ' weeping trombone. has a cute, child-like melody but swings pretty hard, while is slower and proof positive of 's prowess in this style. Of the standards, is 's feature, and when the other more in-tune horns lay out, he takes charge and commands attention. sits back on ' playing the bridge but not much of the hard and fast melody. The -associated has on flute (which is slightly less biting than his bari), while wrote the title cut, which has a singsong melody and another definitive solo from . With the aforementioned crew, along with up-and-coming drummer and bassist , has all the support he needs. Perhaps his embouchure is wanting or he needs to tune up a little -- he is tonally challenged and that may dissuade some from championing him -- but more often than not, he's a successful team player, and that is evident in spades on this slightly off-putting but still enjoyable recording. ~ Michael G. Nastos