Recorded five years before its release, this is alto saxophonist
Mike DiRubbo
's debut as a leader. He is joined by trombonist
Steve Davis
, pianist
Bruce Barth
, bassist
Nat Reeves
, and drummer
Carl Allen
to perform five originals, two
jazz
classics, and two standards. The influence of alto sax great
Jackie McLean
is evident on this recording, as
Davis
,
Reeves
, and
Allen
have played in
McLean
-led groups, and
DiRubbo
studied under
at the Hartt School of Music.
even displays the same sharp sound and urgent attack as
, while
's versatile drumming gives the music much of its flavor. Favorites include the burning title track,
Sahib Shihab
's medium swinger
"Rue De La Harpe,"
's
"Role Reversal,"
which alternates between medium
swing
and up-tempo burn, a surprisingly good version of
"Over the Rainbow,"
played here as a fast
waltz
'
reggae
-flavored
"The Search Within."
This is a fine debut by a promising young musician. ~ Greg Turner