If he wasn't such a great guitarist, this recording would be easy to dismiss. Most GRP releases, especially back in the late '80s, epitomized the commercial jazz sound. There are several light tracks here that qualify as elevator music; however, there are some good tracks as well. Both "The Story Teller" and "Straightjacket" are listenable funk/fusion romps that showcase both
Eubanks and
Gene Jackson, but the real gem here is "In Search of the Searcher," featuring
Edward Simon on piano and
Dennis Chambers on drums. Being a consummate professional and ultimate musician,
Eubanks is able to work within his confined parameters and make tunes such as "Forgotten Future" and "Poem for a Sleeping Child" a pleasant and interesting listen. The producers here were obviously trying to re-create some of the appeal that
Pat Metheny achieved by using
Mark Ledford's voicings, but it comes up flat here. Another "diet jazz" recording from GRP with hints of
Eubanks' genius spread thinly throughout. ~ Robert Taylor