In 1980, bassist
John Heard
and drummer
Albert "Tootie" Heath
traveled to Barcelona, Spain to perform and record with the masterful Spanish jazz pianist
Tete Montoliu
. This live set has fairly long versions of
Milt Jackson's
basic "D&E," "Ladybird," "Autumn In New York" and "Blue Bossa." Although not an innovator,
Montoliu
(like
Oscar Peterson
, whose phenomenal technique he approached) was a master of the modern mainstream and of chordal improvisation. He digs into these songs and comes up with consistently fresh and swinging ideas. ~ Scott Yanow