Drummer Robby Ameen delivers a kinetic album here along with a strong team of Troy Roberts-Bob Franceschinii/ts, Conrad Herwig/tb, Manuel Valera/p and Lincoln Boines-Yunior Terry/b. The sparks fly in a variety of settings ranging from funk to Afro-Cuban and post bop.There’s sizziling percussion and rich sax work on “The Pursuit’ and snappy drums with the two saxes as thick as molasses on the tricky bopped horn line of “ Crowded Hour. The timbales scintillated under Ruben Blades’ rich voice on a richly Latin-fused read of “Begin the Beguine” while the funky gets neck snapping on the fusion “The Corners” and ”Miles to Go.” Ameen goes mano a mano with Roberts on a riveting duet take of Freddie Hubbard’s “Up Jumped Spring” which is a white knuckler of a ride. Hang on tight for this one!
Two and Four Records