Back in 1977, guitarist
Jack Wilkins led a very rewarding recording date, Merge, that featured trumpeter
Randy Brecker and tenor saxophonist
Michael Brecker playing straight-ahead jazz. For this reunion date,
Wilkins, bassist
Eddie Gomez, and drummer
Jack DeJohnette are joined throughout (except for the guitarist's feature on "But Beautiful") by
Randy Brecker, although brother
Michael is unfortunately only on two selections.
Wilkins and
Randy Brecker have many fine solos, and the repertoire consists of five group originals,
Horace Silver's "Break City," and three standards. Although not reaching the heights of Merge (it is a pity that
Michael Brecker was not along for the whole project), this is mostly a high-quality quartet outing of fine post-bop jazz. Worth exploring. ~ Scott Yanow