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Critic's Review
Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Red Rodney, who at 48 was in the midst of a successful comeback, visited England during 1974-75. This Spotlite LP finds him teamed with some of the best bop-oriented jazzmen from the United Kingdom: altoist Pete King, trumpeter Hank Shaw, pianist Bill Le Sage, bassist Spike Heatley and drummer Martin Drew. With their American guest, they perform three group originals and five bop classics, including a couple of numbers ("Merry Go Round" and "Sid's Delight") that are rarely performed. "Tenderly" is a showcase for Rodney; the two trumpeters have a heated tradeoff on "Blue 'N' Boogie"; and King stars among the sidemen. Fun straight-ahead music.
