Reviewed by Tony Cummings

The greatest bass player in the world recorded with the minimal amount of overdubbing and with a hand picked band (including Justo Almario, saxes; Gregg Mathieson, keyboards; and Abraham Laboriel, drums) emerging with an album which exudes live-in-the-studio fluidity yet never falters in its stunning tightness. As Abraham says in a spoken monologue on the title track the number was written by his father in the Gariduna language as "a lament in the voice of a captive African longing for his beloved." Here it is transformed to an achingly haunting mood piece before the soloists take over. Whatever track one selects one finds more marvellous things. Justin Almario's stunning solo climax on Al Jarreau's "Slippin' And Sliding", the bass maestro's answering melody on the solo of "Exchange", or Abraham's evocative fretless on the title track. A fine jazz album, rich in playing time and richer still in dazzling, laid-back musicianship.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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