By their sixth album,
the Heath Brothers (consisting of
Jimmy on tenor and soprano,
Percy Heath on bass, keyboardist
Stanley Cowell, guitarist
Tony Purrone and drummer
Akira Tana) were sticking to their basic hard bop format, with an occasional poppish tune tossed in to give the group variety and possible commercial potential. This excellent set finds the band performing
Kenny Dorham's "No End," "Autumn In New York,"
Percy's "Rejoice," and three originals by
Jimmy. With eight years of constant playing,
the Heath Brothers had developed into a solid working group with a sound of its own;
Jimmy Heath's writing and solos gave the band its own personality. This Antilles set, which has been reissued on CD, is an excellent example of their playing. ~ Scott Yanow