Musicians: Jimmy Haslip, basses, keyboards, drum programming, Synclavier; Randy Brecker, trumpet; Judd Miller, EVI, synth programming; Luis Conte, percussion; Peter Erskine, drums; Lenny Pickett, alto sax; William Kennedy, drum programming; Vince Mendoza, keyboards and guitar; Steve Croes, keyboards, drum programming, Synclavier; Dave Samuels, vibraphone; Bob Mintzer, saxes; Andy Narell, steel drums; Joshua Redman, tenor sax; John Scofield, guitar; John Beasley, piano; Chuck Findley, trumpet.
Jimmy Haslip has recorded on dozens upon dozens of albums, from all corners of the musical map. In 1993, he finally released his first-ever solo recording. For the most part, Jimmy steps outside of the Yellowjackets sound and creates his own unique mix of musical styles. On the other hand, there are some similarities to Yellowjackets, which this reviewer attributes to Jimmy's influence on the Jackets' group sound. Thanks to the assistance of Vince Mendoza, this album features a solid set of tunes that showcases the all-star cast of musicians to good advantage.
Favorites on this set include the Brazilian-tinged "Niños", a new recording of the Yellowjackets track "Market Street" (featured in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home) which is more smoothly executed than its original take, and the dramatic "Matha". The quieter tunes like "Hannah's House" are thoughtful and quiet, while the upbeat tracks like "Orange Guitars" are peppered with Latin overtones. In summary: an excellent solo album!
