When one reads the personnel on this CD, the potential seems enormous: tenor saxophonist David Murray, pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Fred Hopkins, and drummer Elvin Jones. Murray was a good choice for the tenor slot because, although influenced by John Coltrane's adventurous spirit, he has never sounded like Coltrane, coming closer to the Ben Webster/Paul Gonsalves tradition but with a style of his own. In addition to Trane's "Cousin Mary" and "In a Sentimental Mood" (which Coltrane had recorded with Duke Ellington, and Murray takes as a duet with Tyner), the music includes three of the tenor's originals (including "3-D Family") and a Butch Morris song. The fresh material really pushes Tyner, who mostly sticks to standards with his own trio, while Jones sounds as passionate as usual. A successful outing full of mutual inspiration, this CD is easily recommended. - Scott Yanow
Tracks
1. La Tina Lee (Lawrence Butch Morris)
2. Cousin Mary (John Coltrane)
3. Hope / Scope (David Murray)
4. Dexter's Dues (David Murray)
5. In A Sentimental Mood (Duke Ellington)
6. 3D Family (David Murray)
FRED HOPKINS double bass
ELVIN JONES drums
McCOY TYNER piano
DAVID MURRAY tenor saxophone
Recorded at Soundtrack, NYC on March 26, 1990
DIW Records DIW - DIW-843E Japan