One of the stalwarts of LA jazz, Ernie Watts has made a successful living in the studios and jazz clubs. It’s easy to hear why on this album with Christo Saenger/p, Rudi Engel/b and Heinrich Koebberling/dr. He’s got a strong and confident tone, warm delivery, and can flex his muscles with the best. Adaptable to go modal/hard bop as on “Letter From Home,” he roars like a lion that’s chasing its prey on “You and You.” Saenger flows underneath Watts’ glowing embers on “A Distant Light” and delivers some nimble unison lines with the leader under Koebberling’s pulse on “Inner Urge.” Tender moments are also delivered, as Engels bass creates a quietude for Watt’s rich vibrato on “Wheel Of Time.” Solid as the Rock of Gibraltar.