Sam Jones was a prolific sideman during his career, though he recorded on an occasional basis as a leader. This 1978 session, just a few years prior to his premature death, finds him leading a powerful post-bop quintet, his regular group at the time, with cornetist
Terumasa Hino, tenor saxophonist
Bob Berg, pianist
Ronnie Mathews, and drummer
Al Foster.
Jones primarily plays a supporting role through a good part of the date, though he is prominently featured in the interpretation of
Paul Chambers' "Visitation," while he also revisits his breezy bop vehicle "Del Sasser."
Mathews penned the tense modal work "Jean Marie" which incorporates a quirky unison horn line.
Berg, who worked with
Tom Harrell, likely is responsible for the inclusion of the trumpeter's brisk bossa nova "Before You" and his rapid-fire cooker "Occurance." Both
Hino and
Berg shine in the front line, while
Foster's tight drumming keeps the fire lit throughout the date. Originally issued on LP in the late '70s, it was reissued on CD in 1988 with three previously unissued alternate takes.