Altoist
Marion Brown, one of the potentially great high-energy saxophonists to emerge in the mid-'60s (he was on
John Coltrane's famous
Ascension record), has had somewhat of a directionless career. This disc certainly boasts an impressive backup crew (including both
Anthony Davis and
Stanley Cowell on keyboards along with bassist Reggie Workman and some appearances by drummer Ed Blackwell) but does not seem to know what it wants to be. The solos are relatively short, there is a poppish vocal by Allen Murphy on a
Stevie Wonder tune and little that is all that memorable actually occurs. Better to acquire
Marion Brown's earlier recordings. ~ Scott Yanow