continues to produce consistently good mainstream jazz recordings, approaching a sum total of 50. This effort revisits previous original compositions or tackles some hard bop and standards, while alternating between trio and quartet formats. Tenor saxophonist 's dry, flatted style is heard on half of the material, illuminating his increased desire to find a distinctive voice away from his more recognizable alto sax. Veteran bassist is clearly someone enjoys working with regularly, while drummer is more than capable of driving the pianist's swinging machine on a straight-ahead path. There's nothing complicated or groundbreaking about this music, but it is solid, substantive, and always enjoyable whether on the first or the hundredth hearing. Three classic themes of 's reappear in slightly rearranged form; the spirited which is one of 's more affirmed and memorable melodies, the easy, lyrical post-bop piece with a hefty bass solo from , and one for his deceased mother, lightly rendered, modified in pacing from the original version, and a perfect musical tribute to her long life (97 years old before passing in 2002). 's is also changed, out of a slow ballad and into an cozy, steady pace, still lovely as ever. A modal calypso version of s' is completely different than his previous commercial fusion rendering, with some Asian touches, while takes the vintage evergreen in a trio setting with a more swinging, less parlor-y approach. More in the pocket is the spiky off-minor theme a sneaky tune that allows a more playful to skulk in hunched over style. One piece features primarily as a solo artist, as his version of has him waxing rhapsodically on a redo of the solo treatment for the main theme before the rhythm section quietly enters. always has something beautiful to play that sets him apart from the rest, and is as good as a ton of bullion in his golden, productive years. ~ Michael G. Nastos