Tenor saxophonist George Adams played with such verve and wit that virtually every solo he played was a delight. Unfortunately, as is the case here, he sometimes participated in contexts that didn’t quite match the quality of his performances. Here, he’s backed by a decent and sympathetic (if not always inspiring) rhythm section, and some of the tunes — such as the tear-jerking “Send in the Clowns” — are near perfect. Yet, one-third of this short recording is filled by a tune called “Funk-A-Roonie-Peacock,” which, while a lot of fun, sounds like commercial filler. The saxophonist contributes a lengthy vocal, suitable for the disco but likely to disappoint many of his followers. Elsewhere, there’s a sense of spontaneity that borders on informality, but Adams is excellent throughout. – Steve Loewy
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