Critic's Review
Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Allen Eager, a talented cool-toned tenor saxophonist who was at his prime in the late '40s, largely dropped out of music after 1957. Twenty-five years later he returned for this recording before disappearing again. Eager sounds a bit rusty on the quartet set with pianist Hod O'Brien, bassist Teddy Kotick and drummer Jimmy Wormworth but also has some fiery moments and shows that he was familiar with later musical developments (including John Coltrane whose "Equinox" he plays). Performing jazz standards plus his own "Room Service Blues," Eager displays some fire in spots on this straightahead date and makes one wish that he had decided to return to jazz fulltime.
