This is basically a recording of the trio of Japanese pianist
Takehisa Tanaka and the stellar rhythm team of bassist
Cecil McBee and drummer
Elvin Jones, with saxophonist/flautist
Sonny Fortune performing on three of the eight selections, which include three
Tanaka compositions and three standards. Ironically Fortune plays on all three
Tanaka compositions, which are the recording's highlights: "I Was Too Young" is a ballad with the beautiful melody played by Fortune's tenor sax; "My Dream Come True, To E.J.," the only up-tempo selection on this recording, with the melody also played by Fortune's tenor sax; and the title track, a medium-tempo number that features Fortune's flute and
Jones on mallets and brushes. The three standards, "Beautiful Love," "You Don't Know Where Love Is," and "Stella By Starlight" are given relatively straightforward readings here. The normally aggressive
Jones is more restrained than usual throughout this recording, probably so he doesn't overpower
Tanaka, a good pianist who seems out of place playing with musicians the caliber of
Jones, McBee, and Fortune. Not an essential recording except for
Jones completists.
–
Greg Turner, Rovi