'Live at the Jazz Corner of the World'
The Mickey Bass New York Powerhouse Ensemble (Early Bird)
This is a no-fooling-around album. Bassist and Pittsburgh native Mickey Bass leads his quintet through a four-number set recorded at 'The Jazz Corner of The World', in New York City in 2001. The tunes, all by Bass, range from 16 minutes to 23 minutes in length. The band features Bass, Antonio Hart on alto sax, Craig Handy on tenor, Eric Allen on drums and, especially, pianist John Hicks. The pianist, who died in 2006, stands out particularly with his energetic backup work. The tunes include Bass's Arrangement of the well known "Soul Eyes," which provides the two saxophonists a great ballad opportunity, far from the driving "One for Trane." This is an album that captures the sizzle of a well done set.