You know you’ve got the right guy to listen to when leader/pianist/composer Grant Richards is posed on the album liner notes with a picture of bassist Charles Mingus. You get a dash of that influence along with sprinkle of Thelonious Monk on this album with his team of Damian Erskine/eb, Reinhardt Melz/dr and Carmelo Torres/perc. The kinetic energy is high with the double percussion team as Richards’ piano bounces off of the Latin “Bonenkai” and saunters on the title tune. Erskine’s bouncy bass leads into a funky “Two Became One” and glides into the fluid “Portmanteau.” He’s also featured on a four part “Suite For Bass” that gives moments of rich lyricism and luminous textures. The team is fun and frisky on a sizzling take of Monk’s “Bye-Ya” and gives some soul groove when Richards hits the keys on “Space”. A festive occasion.
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