Ted Nash wrote all eight selections for this release, and although none of his originals are that memorable by themselves, the playing is consistently high quality. Four of the eight selections team him with trumpeter
Wynton Marsalis (who takes a particularly hot solo on "The Shooting Star"), while the others have
Marcus Printup in
Marsalis' place. The quintet performances are excellent, with drummer
Matt Wilson sometimes sounding a bit like
Ed Blackwell, bassist
Ben Allison being stimulating in support, and pianist Frank Kimbrough taking several fine solos. Although
Nash's post-bop date would have been improved if the material were more distinctive (perhaps including a few standards), the musicians are all in fine form.