Recorded in mid-November 2000, Manhattan After Hours was clearly intended as a sequel of sorts to the Cedar Walton Trio's Criss Cross Jazz release Manhattan Afternoon, which came together in December 1992. Manhattan After Hours contains seven rock-solid jazz standards and two original compositions by the trio's guest soloist, Australian tenor saxophonist Dale Barlow. The Walton Trio's signature sound owed fully one third of its sonority and cohesiveness to the presence of Trinidadian bassist Dave "Happy" Williams. Manhattan After Hours was among the last albums ever to include Walton's fellow modern jazz veteran drummer Billy Higgins, who passed away in early May 2001. During the first decade of the 21st century, Walton would continue to perform and record straightforward jazz of the highest order, in a welcome burst of creative maturity that has been documented on a series of albums for the HighNote label. Issued in several different editions with variable cover art, Manhattan After Hours is warmly recommended for nocturnal driving or staying up late with friends at home. - arwulf arwulf / allmusic
1. There Is No Greater Love (Isham Jones)
2. St. Thomas (Sonny Rollins)
3. Skylark (Hoagy Carmichael)
4. The Newest Blues (Cedar Walton)
5. When Love Is New (Cedar Walton)
6. I Mean You (Thelonious Monk)
7. Afternoon In Paris (John Lewis
8. The Theme (Miles Davis)
DAVID WILLIAMS bass
BILLY HIGGINS drums
CEDAR WALTON piano
Recorded December 26, 1992 at RPM Studio, NYC
Criss Cross Jazz – Criss 1082 (Netherlands)