While the music on this disc stands as yet another fine addition to 's catalogue of collaborative science, it should be noted first that this trio date is the final recording session of the late bassist , who died of heart disease six months after they were completed. Upon first listen, the striking and remarkable thing about sounds like a trio that had been playing together for no less than five or ten years. It's not just the intuition or the way in which 's and 's tunes are executed, but the sheer and very muscular musicality the band plays with. This is music with a lot of improvisational fire at its center, yet, because of the strength and communication between the players, the nature of the music, it's affirmative and empathetic need to reach out of itself, is articulated with great verve by the trio. The opener and title track features moving through the melodic statement and theme unencumbered by the rhythm section's simultaneous insistence to swing. He makes it knotty and complex, and then allows himself to open to their groove -- which is considerable. On 's adopts hand percussion to open, and borrows a line from to create an evolving thematic scheme. It begins and moves toward another melody before returning and then incorporates that line into a funky kind of break that tempers before comes in to mediate with a loping pizzicato, played sparely and in the pocket. is dedicated to and his former bandmate, the late . 's beautiful, warm tone, always rough on the edges, wafts like a wisp of smoke over the African thumb piano, blowing low and mournful. Spirits and ghosts are in the center between them as they intone, a sad prayer that simultaneously pays tribute and remembers. The minor-key swing of is a marked difference in the proceedings, but it is also the place where shines brightest, curling around the drum kit and popping deep riffs in the accents, which clearly feeds off of when he begins to quote loosely from ups the ante three different times in the improvisation, turning the original tune inside out before turning it on itself one more time top bring it back. He swings so hard that no matter what's going on, he cannot be diverted from his purpose. It's a beautiful cut and a fitting send off for , one of the most durable and enduring bassists of the era. ~ Thom Jurek