White And Griffith

The first four tracks on this double live record are extended version of tunes from the group's 1982 studio album. The last two are Thelonius Monk's "I Mean You" and the standard "Here's That Rainy Day." There's some great playing from all involved, especially Joe Henderson and Chick Corea, but the recording quality leaves something to be desired.

This unique straight-ahead jazz project unites three core members of Return to Forever with post-bop horn heavyweights Freddie Hubbard and Joe Henderson. Stanley Clarke makes an unusual appearance on upright bass, and plays it well. Chick Corea and Lenny White round out the ensemble. The set is strictly acoustic, beginning and ending with two Lenny White tunes, the lively "L's Bop" and the somber, dramatic "Guernica," respectively. Clarke contributes the catchy, mid-tempo blues "Why Wait," while Corea gives us "October Ballade" and Hubbard dusts off his hard-bop classic "Happy Times." Corea's trio featured on Steve Swallow's "Remember" breaks things up nicely.