In his series of releases for V.S.O.P., drummer Danny D’Imperio has successfully kept hard bop not only alive, but creative and fresh. This CD has one of his finest recordings. The arrangements are quite inventive; the 11 rarely recorded songs are superior (including Quincy Jones’ “Jessica’s Day,” Freddie Redd’s “Thespian” and Lee Morgan’s “Need I”), and the musicians (in settings up to a ten-piece) sound quite inspired. Their rendition of Bud Powell’s complex “Glass Enclosure” is quite definitive. Among the star soloists are trumpeter Greg Gisbert, altoist Gary Pribek, Ralph Lalama on tenor and pianist Hod O’Brien. A high-quality and frequently exciting CD that rewards repeated listenings. – Scott Yanow
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