On these recordings, there is floating and grooving hard bop with an ever pulsating rhythm section, dueling tenor sax by Lateef and trumpet by Byrd, plus solo slots for bass, drums, and piano. The leading instruments generate a cheerful atmosphere and make this live album a blissful experience for every lover of the mid '50s hard bop sound. The passion of the musicians grabs the audience immediately and when the melodies pour out of your speakers, you will be captured by this pure essence of jazz as well. Far from later modal and even free jazz monoliths, these catchy tunes are quite easy to follow. The band is tight and this proves to be a great advantage. Every note and every beat of the drums sits in the right place as if they had always been there and just had to be made audible by the band. It is indeed like the sculptor who already sees the glyph within the block of marble and just sets it free. The music plays itself through the instruments. Haunting and relaxed passages, cool melodies put into memorable structures. A classic among the hipsters and beatniks with their goat beards, metal-rimmed glasses, and berets, drinking, tripping, and philosophizing to the sound of this and many other albums that were made from jazz aficionados for their kind.
Musicians:
Yusef Lateef, tenor sax
Donald Byrd, trumpet
Barry Harris, piano
Bernard McKinney, euphonium
Alvin Jackson, bass
Frank Gant, drums
