Tune Up in Bloomington, MN

From the same "live in Baltimore" session that resulted in
Dr. Jackle
, altoist
Jackie McLean
and his regular quartet of the period (comprised of pianist
Lamont Johnson
, bassist
Scotty Holt
, and drummer
Billy Higgins
) explore lengthy versions of three standards ("Tune-Up," "I Remember You," and a passionate "Smile") along with
McLean
's original "Jack's Tune." As well as the altoist plays, it is the solos of the underrated and underrecorded pianist,
LaMont Johnson
, that make this explorative hard bop release most notable. ~ Scott Yanow