Tenor saxophonist
Bob Mintzer recruited some of the best available jazz musicians in the Big Apple for these 1993 studio sessions, which focus mostly on his originals. The driving opener is "Treasure Hunt," though the tenor sax solo is by
Bob Malach rather than the leader.
Mintzer switches to bass clarinet for the adventurous "Modern Day Tuba," though the instrument sounds as if it has been electronically altered, as the normally woody tone seems a bit tinny. The leader adds a surprise by singing his hip "TV Blues," which features the underrated pianist
Phil Markowitz to good effect. The leader is the only soloist on the majestic, richly textured "What Might Have Been." The one standard is a breezy arrangement of "I Want to Be Happy" that adds a Latin undercurrent and showcases trumpeter
Tim Hagens and alto saxophonist
Pete Yellin. Recommended.