by Ken Dryden
This is one of Andy LaVerne's earliest dates as a leader, recorded in 1981 for the Japanese-based Atlas, with drummer Shelly Manne and bassist Bob Magnusson. The post-bop pianist kicks off with a wild ride through "Speak Low," followed by a darker adaptation of Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma," which makes it sound a bit ominous. LaVerne's shimmering take of Charles Mingus' elegant tribute, "Duke Ellington's Sound of Love," also brings Magnusson into the spotlight. Even though the bittersweet lyrics to "Spring Is Here" aren't heard on this recording, LaVerne's arrangement captures the mood better than typical instrumental performances. "You Go to My Head" seems to always be played at a luxurious ballad tempo, but the pianist prefers a brisk bossa nova treatment here. The leader's sole original is the snappy"Captain Video." Shelly Manne, who sticks to brushes during a good portion of the album, is a powerful asset to the young pianist throughout. This recommended, but unfortunately out of print LP, will be challenging to locate.