Jam sessions featuring swing veterans were not that common an occurence on record during the early '70s, making
Hank O'Neal's Chiaroscuro label both ahead of and behind the times. This CD reissue is most notable for having pianist
Mary Lou Williams (who rarely was invited to this type of freewheeling session) as one of the key soloists. Also heard from are the tenors of
Buddy Tate and Illinois Jacquet and the aging but still exciting trumpeter
Roy Eldridge; the backup players are rhythm guitarist
Steve Jordan, bassist
Milt Hinton and drummer
Gus Johnson. Together they jam three group originals,
Buck Clayton's "Rockaway" and the standard "Sunday" and, although falling short of being a classic, this infectious and consistently swinging music is worth picking up. ~ Scott Yanow