“A hopping mix of good themes, charts and inspiring solos. A must for hard bop fans.”
Full toned tenor saxist Johnny Griffith leads a swinging and erudite hard bop quintet along with Jeremy Pelt/tp, Adrean Farrugia/p, Jon Maharaj/b and Ethan Ardelli/dr for a collection of originals. A four part title track Has Pelt in hip form for the post-bop “The Lion” while the team drives hard on the modal “The Child” and struts on “The Camel.” Pelt is wam on the muted “Last Say” and boogaloos with Farrugia for “The Corridor” with the leader sighing gloriously with melancholy for “Amarone.” The snappy rhythm team digs deep on the driving “Narcomedusae” and is slick for “Deliciously Ambitious.” A hopping mix of good themes, charts and inspiring solos. A must for hard bop fans.
George W Harris