A familiar grouping, but one that's presented here in a very different way – as bassist David Williams is up front in the lead, instead of working in his more familiar role in the trio of pianist Cedar Walton! Yet Walton's on board for this debut set from Williams as a leader – as is drummer Billy Higgins – and it's wonderful to hear the way they change things up slightly to give David more time in the spotlight, and to hear the way that Williams hits some of his more lyrical, melodic modes too – qualities that further our love of his talents on the bass, which were already great enough when working behind Walton. Cedar gets in plenty of solos along the way, but often cedes more time to Williams – and titles include "Mode For Joe", "Up Front", "Let's Call This", "Everything Must Change", and "Summertime".
Tracks
1. Up Front (David Williams)
2. Django (John Lewis)
3. Let's Call This (Thelonious Monk)
4. Everything Must Change (Bernard Ighner)
5. Good Bait (Tadd Dameron)
6. Mode for Joe (Cedar Walton)
DAVID WILLIAMS bass
CEDAR WALTON piano
BILLY HIGGINS drums
Recorded October 31, 1986 at Studio 44, Monster
Timeless Records CDSOL-6393