On the Steve Gadd Band’s spirited, hook and improvisation filled, tightly funky then polyrhythmic groove-a-second fourth album, the legendary drummer and his longtime cohorts from James Taylor’s band–Walt Fowler (trumpet/flugelhorn), Jimmy Johnson (bass), Michael Landau (guitar)–add a sparkling retro-minded new member to the group: Kevin Hays on Rhodes, who leads the band through irresistible Steely Dan-esque romps. A wonderfully unselfish leader, Gadd provides the backbone for his compatriots, some of contemporary jazz’s greatest, to solo galore on this adventurous but invitingly accessible set.
Rating: 8/10
BFM Jazz
Producer: Steve Gadd
