Like Blue Note during its halcyon days, CA based Posi-Tone Records has its own cadre of “home” musicians. This album has them all getting together for some comfort food hard bopping, as opposed to the advertised “swing” factor, but it’s still alright with me.
The team of Alex Sipiagin/tp, Patrick Cornelius/as, Diego Rivera/ts, Michael Dease/tb, Art Hirahara/p, Boris Kozlov/b and Rudy Royston/dr hit like Jazz Messengers on this album of originals. Hirahara’s keys are dark on the driving “Invocation” with Sipiagin bouncing on the brass. Royston’s high hat simmers with Kozlov on the pretty “Free Time” and shuffle on the ultra hip killer joe-ish “Mal’s Totem”. Dease is soulful over the double timed groove of “Don’t Look Back” and flexes his muscles with a Birdlike “Cornelius” on the sizzling “Changing Trains”. Finger poppin’!