Trombonist and leader Jimmy O’Connell brings together a muscular hard bop team of Andrew Gold/as-ss, Tim Basom/g, Tuomo Uusitalo/p, Peter Slavov/b and Jimmy MacBride/dr through an impressive mix of jazz standards and originals. O’Connell’s tone is bold, strong and confident, but not overbearing on the extroverted read of JJ Johnson’s “Lament” and Cedar Walton’s bopping “Bolivia” with crisp drum work provided by MacBride.” Uusitalo’s piano hangs around the saloon for a full stride “ In The Wee Small Hours” and the whole team serenely swings on “Crayons.” Slavov knows how to create a slinky groove for the horns on “Solidarity” and supplies a slick bass lick for Gould’s soprano on the title track. The mix of alto and ‘bone lock horns deliciously throughout, and their solos are exciting without any self indulgence, a rarity that is welcome in this day of overblown pyrotechnics.