Three CDs' worth of material was recorded in 1986 by a band that was only together for one week, time spent playing at a short-lived New York club called Carlos I. In fact, the full group actually played together for less than a week, for, unlike other volumes that feature
Don Pullen on piano, this CD has pianist
Mulgrew Miller. Otherwise the quintet is still comprised of baritonist
Hamiet Bluiett, bassist
Fred Hopkins, drummer
Idris Muhammad, and
Chief Bey on ashiko drum. The group plays three
Bluiett originals (including the
Coltrane-ish blues "John" and "Wide Open"), a rather explorative version of "Sophisticated Lady," and
Miller's "Eastern Joy," which hints strongly at music of the Far East. Although
Miller does not fit into the band quite as well as
Pullen (his
McCoy Tyner-inspired playing sounds a bit conservative compared to
Bluiett and
Hopkins), there is plenty of spirit to this music. All three discs from this one-time gig are recommended to fans of the great baritonist
Hamiet Bluiett. ~ Scott Yanow