There is a lot worse a drummer can do than continue the inspirational legacy of Art Blakey. Ralph Peterson brings back alumni from Blakey’s band like it’s a reunion of sorts along with material penned by the graduates to create a swinging re-evaluation of Buhaina’s delights.
Peterson himself supplies the pen for the bluesy pulse of “Forth and Back” which includes hip solos by Jean Toussaint” and Phillip Harper, as well as “Sonora” with some solo work by Melissa Slocum and the double timed title track with the horns of Phillip Harper/tp, Bill Pierce/ts and Steve Davis/tb swaying and charging together like stallions. Brian Lynch sizzles over the percussion discussion of Peterson and Reinaldo DeJesus on the salsa’d “El Grito” and pianist Joanne Brackeen cooks with him on her own “Tricks of the Trade”. All throughout, Peterson directs traffic, supplies the backbeat, ricochets, grooves and accents like his drumming mentor, making this album able to be appreciated on its own, but also serving as a reason to go check out some old Blue Note reissues. The Big Beat lives!