When one reads the personnel on this CD, the potential seems enormous: tenor saxophonist
David Murray, pianist
McCoy Tyner, bassist
Fred Hopkins, and drummer
Elvin Jones.
Murray was a good choice for the tenor slot because, although influenced by John Coltrane's adventurous spirit, he has never sounded like
Coltrane, coming closer to the
Ben Webster/
Paul Gonsalves tradition but with a style of his own. In addition to Trane's "Cousin Mary" and "In a Sentimental Mood" (which
Coltrane had recorded with
Duke Ellington, and
Murray takes as a duet with
Tyner), the music includes three of the tenor's originals (including "3-D Family") and a
Butch Morris song. The fresh material really pushes
Tyner, who mostly sticks to standards with his own trio, while
Jones sounds as passionate as usual. A successful outing full of mutual inspiration, this CD is easily recommended. ~ Scott Yanow