Drummer Fred Taylor showcases the compositions of respected alto saxophonist and educator Bob Ackerman on this highly interactive trio outing with bassist Rick Crane. Everyone is on equal footing here, with Crane’s agile upright basslines resounding in the mix as prominently as Ackerman’s sax, flute and clarinet. Together they turn in a swinging rendition of “Dear Old Stockholm,” along with Ackerman gems like “LTD’s Ballad” and “My Response.” The keen-eared Taylor is responsive to every nuance throughout, which is best exemplified on the freewheeling “Inventions I and II.”
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