For this CD reissue in his series of Books, Ervin and his quintet (with trumpeter Carmell Jones, pianist Gildo Mahones, bassist Richard Davis, and drummer Alan Dawson) perform four very different blues: the speedy “One for Mort,” a low-down “No Booze Blooze,” the modal “True Blue,” and the minor-toned “Eerie Dearie.” The consistently passionate Ervin makes each of the fairly basic originals sound fresh and the performances are frequently exciting inside/outside music. – Scott Yanow