Bob James surprised many when he signed the adventurous pianist Joanne Brackeen to his Tappan Zee subsidiary of Columbia. As it turned out, James signed her for the simple reason that he was impressed by her music, and Brackeen's Columbia recordings fortunately ended up not being any "simpler" or more "accessible" than her earlier small-label dates. This now out-of-print album features Brackeen with an all-star quartet featuring her former boss, Joe Henderson, on tenor, bassist Eddie Gomez and drummer Jack DeJohnette. The four complex Brackeen originals are all at least nine minutes long and are quite challenging for both the musicians and the listener alike. - Scott Yanow
Tracks
1. Ancient Dynasty
2. Remembering
3. Beagle's Boogie
4. Pin Drum Song - Celebration
EDDIE GOMEZ double bass
JACK DeJOHNETTE drums
JOANNE BRACKEEN piano
JOE HENDERSON tenor saxophone
All music composed by JoAnne Brackeen
Recorded November 1979 at Sound Mixers, NYC
Tappan Zee Records – JC 36593 (US)