Jeff Williams leads a strong quintet as he drums, plays percussion and even a bit of Fender Rhodes along with Josh Arcoleo/ts, Phil Robson/g, Kit Downes/key and Sam Lasserson/b through a collection of originals. He’s been in the rhythm sections of Dave Liebman, Joe Lovano and Dizzy Gillespie, so he knows how to ride the whip, and he veers around the hairpin turns with Arcoleo’s tenor on the title track while the Monkish “The Interloper” has some nice grooves with Williams and Lasserson as Arcoleo’s tenor gasps for air. Deft brush work teams up with Downes’ gentle piano on “Meeting a Stranger” and the whole crew creates a graceful cadence on “Hermeto.” Robson’s guitar adds to the rockish fusion of “Dream Visitor” and Williams snaps the team into shape on the galloping “Oddity.” Strong and muscular outing.
Whirlwind Records