by Scott Yanow
Keyboardist Lonnie Liston Smith, who had been a key member of Pharoah Sanders' band, always has a healthy dose of spirituality in his music. On this LP for Doctor Jazz, Smith (who alternates between electric and acoustic piano) is joined by Robert Zantay on a dated-sounding lyricon, soprano saxophonist Premik and a rhythm section incluidng the great bassist Cecil McBee. None of the leader's six originals are all that memorable, and the moody performances are actually most successful as superior background music.