by Scott Yanow
Although an adventurous improviser always associated with the avant-garde, baritonist Hamiet Bluiett shows throughout this intriguing CD that he can also play blues and bop quite effectively. In fact, &Blues in F and G& is a straight-ahead duet by Bluiett with bassist Keter Betts. Some of the other songs feature the other musicians stretching themselves in Bluiett's direction, including a fairly free duet that he has with drummer Jimmy Cobb (&Jimmy and Me&). The music -- which is interpreted by a sextet also including trumpeter Jack Walrath, tenor saxophonist Mark Shim, and pianist Larry Willis -- certainly keeps one constantly guessing and has no slow moments.