On the title track of this distinctive recording, Sherman Irby lets loose on the alto sax with a fetching mix of country funk and cosmopolitan wit. It is this rich character throughout the disc that sets him apart from countless young players on the scene today. While other young Turks possess all the flash of Coltrane's sheets of sound or Bird's lightning dexterity, not many are focused on keeping it real. But 30-year-old Irby displays an adventurous spirit that makes his excellent tone all that more satisfying.
The CD's playlist is dominated by fine originals, but just as exciting is the artist's unusual reading of Stevie Wonder's "Too High" and a smoky "Take The 'A' Train" that exudes all the mystery of an Edward Hopper urban tableau. Kudos are in order for the support of bassist Gerald Cannon and Clifford Barabaro on drums, not to mention the appearance of Ed Cherry's delicate guitar work on several tracks. It is the honesty of this outfit that is perhaps its most distinctive and admirable quality. Indeed, by the time the band settles into the laid-back groove of album closer "We're Gonna Be Alright," you want to believe them. They earn your trust.
