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| 1970, the year of this recording, was a mighty exploratory year for jazz. The shock waves of the Miles Davis bombshell, Bitches Brew, were strongly reverberating in open minds. But not every innovator had to plug-in their instrument in order to crackle electrically. Indeed, Roy Brooks demonstrates on this live date just how alive and creative acoustic jazz could still be in that pivotal year of 1970. Brooks drives his all star quintet, which includes the grossly underrated Woody Shaw on trumpet, the heavy-weight George Coleman on tenor, the unstoppable Cedar Walton on piano, and the fluid Cecil McBee on bass. Funky, adventurous, and totally accessible, this recording captures the sheer excitement and enthusiasm that players like these could generate when the chemistry was just right. This is a near-classic club date, a fact that is loudly amplified by the near frenzied appreciation of the audience, whose presence is felt throughout the four lengthy tracks that stretch across the record grooves. It almost makes the listener jealous, wishing to have been there on that memorable day at the Left Bank Jazz Society Baltimore, soaking in the pleasure of such a jamming session. Thankfully 32 Jazz has unearthed this disc for us to spin! ---John Ballon (email)
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