Reviewed: 2019-07-09
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Foster’s resume as a supporting artist reads better than most other jazz drummers. He's recorded albums with many of the major jazz artists. Now, for the first time since 2002, you can hear him as a band leader. As its title suggests, the album is a somewhat autobiographical release. Foster's quintet is a top-tier group of musicians. Rather than featuring a standout single, each song on this release contributes more to a whole.
If You Like: Art Blakey, Herbie Hancock (acoustic), Freddie Hubbard, Lou Donaldson
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Cantaloupe Island (6:42) – piano starts> midtempo jam> sax solo> trumpet solo> piano solo> midtempo jam> quick stop
2/ Ooh, What You Do To Me (5:39) – piano starts> midtempo jam> trumpet solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
**3/ Simone’s Dance (5:01) – piano starts> uptempo jam> trumpet solo> sax solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> fade on piano
*4/ Samba de Michelle (5:54) – piano starts> uptempo jam> sax solo> trumpet solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> quick fade
5/ Kierra (5:31) – piano starts> midtempo jam> piano solo> trumpet solo> sax solo> fade
*6/ Douglas (4:48) – piano/horns start> uptempo jam> trumpet solo> sax solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> pause> fade
7/ Brandyn (1:38) – midtempo piano solo
8/ Our Son (2:42) – muted trumpet starts> slow tempo jam> piano solo> slow jam> slow fade
**9/ Song For Monique (4:21) – piano starts> uptempo jam> trumpet solo> piano solo> uptempo jam> quick fade
10/ Jazzon (5:00) – horns start> midtempo jam> piano solo> trumpet solo> midtempo jam> crescendo end
*11/ Bonnie Rose (5:35) – piano solo starts> midtempo trio jam> bass solo> fade
***12/ Jean-Pierre (5:40) – drum solo starts> uptempo jam> trumpet solo piano solo> sax solo> crescendo end