by Scott Yanow
Bassist Johnny Dyani's final recording as a leader (he died a year later at the age of 40) matches his warm sound with trumpeter Harry Beckett, John Tchicai (doubling on tenor and bass clarinet) and drummer Billy Hart on six of his melodic yet explorative originals. Dyani's atmospheric and colorful music was long underrated but, like that of Abdullah Ibrahim (a fellow expatriate from South Africa), Johnny Dyani was a major composer whose flights were tempered by a strong emphasis on fresh melodies. Stimulating music.