Drummer Donald Edwards leads a post bop quintet that includes Walter Smith III/ts, David Gilmore/g, Orrin Evans/p and Eric Revis/b through a collection of originals. The leader’s drumming is varied, clever and quite diverse, ranging from an African influenced “History of the Future” to a churchified “American Drum Call To Mama” that includes a congregation calling out together. More mainstream material such as “The Dream” and “The Essential Passion” feature the rich and thick tenor of Smith III, while everyone gets a bit free and frisky on “Nightmare of Fun.” The funk factor is high on “Not Really Gumbo” where everyone digs in. A joy for friends of the traps.
Criss Cross Records