This is a set of mostly driving hard bop as played by five superior New York-based musicians. Drummer Cecil Brooks III contributed three of the five songs (only one piece is under 11 minutes), which the group performs along with “Chelsea Bridge” and “But Beautiful.” While tenor saxophonist Don Braden, veteran pianist John Hicks, and bassist Dwayne Dolphin are known, the date might be most significant for showing that young trumpeter Riley Mullins has no difficulty keeping up with the other musicians and is in their league. This disc is easily recommended to fans of modern hard bop. – Scott Yanow