Pianist
Mike LeDonne
's second recording is most notable for the outstanding and contrasting playing of trumpeter
Tom Harrell
and baritonist
Gary Smulyan
. While
Harrell
is lyrical and melodic,
Smulyan
is forceful and swings quite hard. With bassist
Dennis Irwin
and drummer
Kenny Washington
offering stimulating support, the three lead voices are in top form.
LeDonne
contributed three fine originals and, other than the
standard
"My Ideal,"
the other four songs (
Duke Pearson
's
"Ready Rudy?,"
Duke Ellington
"The Feeling of Jazz,"
Buddy Montgomery
"Bock to Bock,"
and
Wynton Kelly
"Action"
) are all superior obscurities. Easily recommended to straight-ahead
jazz
fans. ~ Scott Yanow