The Max Roach Double Quartet, which combined the drummer's regular group (comprised of trumpeter
Cecil Bridgewater, tenor saxophonist
Odean Pope and electric bassist
Tyrone Brown) with The Uptown String Quartet, was a perfect match, and its few recordings are all quite enjoyable and occasionally wondrous. In addition to a transcription of
Scott Joplin's "Easy Winners" for the strings, this superior release has colorfully arranged versions of works by
Bridgewater ("Birds Says"),
Pope ("Sis") and
Roach ("A Little Booker"). The wide variety of colors and the consistently-strong improvisations make this a highly recommended set of stirring music. ~ Scott Yanow