Some jazz recordings take pages to explain and analyze. Such is not the case with Nick Brignola's Reservoir release, for the great baritonist (who ranks up with
Gerry Mulligan,
Hamiet Bluiett, and
Ronnie Cuber as pacesetters on the instrument in the mid-'90s) jams four standards and three straight-ahead originals with an all-star quintet also featuring trumpeter
Claudio Roditi and pianist
John Hicks. In addition to his many robust baritone solos,
Brignola has excellent outings on clarinet ("More Than You Know") and soprano. With bassist
George Mraz and drummer
Dick Berk ably supporting the group and both
Roditi and
Hicks heard at the peak of their powers,
Brignola's album is a strong set of bop-oriented music. ~ Scott Yanow