On his recorded output,
Anthony Branker has shown consistent growth as a composer/arranger working with small groups. For this session he is musical director for a quartet featuring several veterans of earlier recordings, including saxophonist
Ralph Bowen, bassist
Kenny Davis, and drummer
Adam Cruz, adding pianist
Jim Ridl.
Branker's writing style isn't easy to classify, as he fits equally into post-bop and modern creative, while his skills composing ballads also merit praise. The infectious, spirited "Ancestral Tales" seems like an African walking song, with its delightful polyrhythms and formidable solos by
Bowen (on soprano) and
Ridl. The pianist opens "Land of Milk and Honey" with an impressionistic solo suggesting a pastoral setting, with the mood turning to a loping jazz waltz as
Bowen enters on his majestic tenor sax. "Skirting the Issue" features
Ridl switching to Fender Rhodes and
Bowen back on soprano, interpreting the insistent, funky work with a deft touch. "The Selfless Soul" is a lush ballad showcase for
Bowen on tenor, with subtle backing by the rhythm section. "Dance of the Aesthetics" builds upon a repeated motif, featuring
Bowen's energetic soprano backed by
Davis and
Cruz playing a lively African rhythm. Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden
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