Pianist Ben Markley leads a team of tenor titan Joel Frahm, bassist Marty Kenney and drummer Jim White on a collection of post bop originals.
Markley frames Frahm well, in a bluesy strut of “The Return of Catboy” and the high hat lead “The Last Time This Happened,” with Frahm switching to soprano as he glides over White’s brushes on “Sentience.” Andy Wheelock adds congas to the sleek “Max’s Mission” and urgent “One For Armando” with the leader serving as tour guide throughout, give some sublime work her, as on “’Mon Back” or getting funky on ”Slow Play.” Markley leads well in a servant’s role.