Reissue with the latest remastering. Features original cover artwork. Comes with a descripton in Japanese. An excellent set from reedman Dave Liebman – easily one of his most soulful from the 70s, thanks to some key currents in the group! John Scofield is on the session – playing guitar, but sometimes with this phrasing that almost feels more like a keyboard – especially in the way it layers into the rhythms from Ron McClure on bass and Adam Nussbaum on drums – who work with John to carve out these nicely chunky moments that allow Dave to really take off on tenor and soprano sax. The great Terumasa Hino is also in the combo – and his work on trumpet and flugelhorn is brilliant – this bold, flowing sense of color that really illuminates things – and without which, the album would be far less. Titles include "Cliff's Vibes", "Stardust", "Lady", and "Doin It Again".
This is a mostly straightahead jazz date by pianist Hilton Ruiz that achieves some variety by alternating the instrumentation. The pianist/leader adds percussionist Daniel Ponce to some numbers (such as "Doin' It Right") for some Latin-jazz, jams with his trio (which also includes bassist Jimmy Rowser and drummer Steve Berrios) and pays tribute to both Thelonious Monk and Bud Powell. Don Cherry sits in on his muted trumpet for the ballad "Misty Moods" and the minor-keyed "Scottish Blues" but his solos wander and his intonation is shaky. Much better is Ruiz's unaccompanied exploration of "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" and a quartet version of his original "The Blessing." Other than Cherry's appearances, this is a satisfying modern mainstream set.