Drummer Jay Lawrence shows impressive versatility and swing on this album of originals and very clever covers. He brings together a group of all stars in John Patitucci/b, Renee Rosnes/p, Romero Lubambo-Anthony Wilson-Yotam Silberstein/g, Harry Allen/ts and Terell Stafford in a cut and paste atmosphere. Lawrence is as sharp as a Versace suit on pieces like the hip “From Nadir to Zenith” with Stafford’s muted brass, while the two horns slink along to a bluesy “Slide” and Lawrence press rolls a simmering intro to the shuffling New Orleans tapper “Tchoupitoulas.” Allens’ tenor is a breathy tour de force during the peppy “Golden Ratio” and is elegant for “Full Moon in Havana.” Most fun of all is a wonderfully grooved take of Jimi Hendrix’s “Crosstown Traffic” that has Allen and Silberstein veering in and out of the roundabouts. Softer moods prevail as Lubambo and Allen create soft fragrances to Lawrence’s guiding cymbals on “My Winsome Consort.” This is a fun one!