Nelson’s inside-to-outside quintet offers a refreshing take on the tradition of McLean, Shepp, Ayler, et al. The leader, who composed nine of the ten tunes on the album, plays C-melody saxophone, on which he gets a big, pliant sound. Alto saxophonist Aaron Martin, pianist John Alaimo, bassist Jimmy Burgoff, and drummer Skip Barkley complete Nelson’s musical brotherhood with big ears and generous expression. Definitely worth owning.
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