Tenor saxophonist Houston Person's playing has a lot in common with an ideally brewed cup of coffee. Both are bold, satisfying, smooth, eye-opening and addictive once experienced. Whether it be during smoldering blues-tinged numbers, up-tempo takes on old favorites, or sultry, late-night balladry, Person never fails to deliver a performance where expressivity reigns supreme. The band is made up of a group from Person's cadre of regular colleagues with guitar great Russell Malone adding his sensitive voicings and swinging rhythms to the mix. The album's title is an homage to the legendary engineer Rudy Van Gelder. Person's first recording as a leader was done at Rudy's fabled Englewood Cliffs studio and they continued their friendship until Van Gelder's passing. But this is a not a backward-looking memorial album. That is not Person's style. Based on his performance schedule and his extensive discography, Houston Person, like his fans, is always looking forward to his next gig.
