Drummer Ralph Peterson has had an impressive career as sidemen for the like of Terence Blanchard, Charles Lloyd and Walter Davis Jr. Here, he leads a trio with Zaccai Curtis/p and Luques Curtis/b that focuses on compositions by post bop icons like Davis, Joe Henderson and Sam Rivers. The interplay here, which ranges from the bouncy “Beatrice” to a kinetic “Backgammon” and luscious “Skylark,” is impressive and dynamic.
The problem here is that something happened in the control booth. Peterson’s drum work seems to overpower the music here, with heavy hitting contrasting with the bass on “ Inner Urge” and the feisty piano on “Moments.” The sound works best on the lilting “Blues For Cooch,” but for the most part, it feels like you’re in a jazz club with the seat right next to the snare.
Onyx Productions