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Personnel includes: J.D. Allen (tenor saxophone); Fabio Margera (trumpet, flugelhorn); Shedrick Mitchell (piano); Eric Revis (bass); Rodney Green (drums).
For tenor saxophonist, J.D. Allen's debut as a leader, he wisely chose experienced Italian trumpeter Fabio Morgera as the second horn, along with a young, dynamite rhythm section. Allen is from the post-Coltrane school: His tone is big and strong, and burly. Except for Ornette's "Lonely Woman," Allen composed all the charts, and they are surprisingly mature and memorable. Shedrick Mitchell is the pianist on only a few tracks; on the remainder, the horns are backed only by a smashing Rodney Green on drums, and the solid Eric Revis on string bass. Sure, the music sounds a bit derivative, but these fellows are having a blast from the past as they wrestle the changes. Morgera is splendid on trumpet and deserves greater international recognition, which this recording will hopefully bring him. ~ Steve Loewy