Most albums from the late '60s went one of three ways: it either was a straight-ahead commercial session, a slightly outing, or a funky workout with a vague "Black Power" theme. had followed the latter path with , the predecessor to , and there are still remnants of that style on this session, particularly in the opening cover of 's Nevertheless, is a more adventurous affair than , finding -- as well as trumpeter , trombonist , guitarist , tenor saxophonist and drummer -- exploring territory that isn't quite free, but is certainly more "out there" than the average session. In particular, 's originals and reach the outer edges of the style, playing with dissonance, complex melodies and expansive sound structures. Despite all these free flourishes, remains a record and it has all the trappings of its era -- the take on finds the group approximating . While the more adventurous elements of make for an intriguing listen, the album isn't quite as enjoyable as the harder grooving sessions or the spacier records from the same era. Nevertheless, it's a worthwhile listen. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine