Guitarist
Ray Crawford, best known for his associations with pianist
Ahmad Jamal and organist
Jimmy Smith, only led one session in his early years. Because the Candid label soon went bankrupt, the set went unreleased altogether until this 1988 CD. Comprised of five
Crawford originals, the session finds the guitarist playing fairly advanced hard bop with trumpeter
Johnny Coles, baritonist
Cecil Payne (in top form), pianist Junior Mance, bassist Ben Tucker, and drummer Frankie Dunlop. Everyone sounds fine, making one regret that this set fell between the cracks for so many years. ~ Scott Yanow