Over het album
Although drummer Louis Hayes receives top billing on this 1996 CD, it is for the heated and creative playing of his co-leader, trumpeter Woody Shaw, that the concert recording is primarily recommended. Joined by Rene McLean (who here often sounds like his father Jackie McLean) on tenor, soprano and flute, pianist Ronnie Mathews (a bit influenced by McCoy Tyner) and bassistStafford James, Shaw is in top form. The repertoire consists of two of the trumpeter's best songs ("In Case You Haven't Heard" and "Moontrane"), an original apiece by Mathews and McLean, and Wayne Shorter's "Contemplation." The strong solos and advanced compositions fall between hard bop and post-bop. Woody Shaw was one of the most creative jazz trumpeters of all time, in some ways the final major follower of the Clifford Brown tradition, and this is one of his best live sets.