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Critic's Review
Michael G. Nastos, All Music Guide
On this primarily acoustic trio recording, drummer Bruford, bassist Eddie Gomez and pianist/guitarist Ralph Towner create some lush, wondrous, spontaneous, melodic music. It has jazz roots, improvisational branches and elfen extensions. There's no gimmickry or pretension, Bruford does add some sampled colors and Towner overdubs his instruments, as well as a pinch of electronic keyboards. What you basically hear is Bruford's newest and freshest music, interpreted and extrapolated upon by three virtuosos in mellifluous intractive conversation. At their most swinging on the lively 4/4 tick-tock light rimshot mid-tempo swing of the title track, they are telepathic, Towner switching from acoustic 12 string to piano effortlessly, Gomez laying down soulful, full, deep bass punctuations. In a more ethnocentric bag, Bruford samples mbira during the folkish "Thistledown," Indonesian bells for the minimalistic, dancing "Splendor Among Shadows," while clay pots accent "Silent Pool," and Towner emulates Peruvian wooden pan flutes on his synth for "The Ballad Of Vilcabamba," replete with ostinato bass and quiet electronic hand claps. The drummer pays homage to Joe Morello's classic 5/4 "Take Five" drum solo on "Some Other Time" (not the standard, ) and plays with the time accenting on the fourth beat while slowly grooving in 6/8 on the ballad "Forgiveness." "Never The Same Way Once" (an old Shelly Manne adage) is the showstopper, a time shifting bluesy half swing to bop and back rhythm with spritely Chick Corea-like piano-guitar unison melody that is completely unpredictable and delightful. It reflects an easy going, loose, carefree attitude that defines this entire session. If summer had its ghosts they would evoke echoes of spring, full of renewal, hope and joyful anticipation. It is that spirit with which this music is made, and it is some of greatest music, collectively or otherwise, these three have conjured in their lengthy, storied careers.
