When jazz reviewers wrote about
Spyro Gyra in the past, they nearly always had something good to say about vibraphonist
Dave Samuels, implying that if he would go out on his own, creative music would occur. This CD is proof to the contrary -- easy-listening music that is very predictable, with light funk rhythms that are upbeat but instantly forgettable.
Samuels does play well throughout, with "Footpath" being an impressive unaccompanied feature. However, despite the presence of guitarist
Steve Khan, bassist
John Patitucci and guest clarinetist
Eddie Daniels, the rest of this set falls into the soothing and vacuous world of airplay jazz. ~ Scott Yanow