During his long career, bassist Avery Sharpe spent an extended time working with pianist McCoy Tyner, in addition to stints with Archie Shepp and Yusef Lateef. Legends and Mentors is a tribute to these three musicians; Sharpe chose to dedicate an original to each one, along with interpreting a pair of originals by each player. He recruited a top-notch band for this session, including pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs, violinist John Blake, alto saxophonist/soprano saxophonist/flautist Joe Ford, and drummer Winard Harper. The bassist's intense Big Mac (Bro. Tyner) is an excellent tribute to the piano giant, including stylistic influences of Tyner without sounding like he is copying his sound. Blake's poignant violin blends well with Ford's soprano sax in the warm take of Tyner's Ballad for Aisha, while it is the infectious playing of the rhythm section that carries the furious Afro-Bossa groove of Tyner's Fly with the Wind. Sharpe's complex elements of The Chief (Bro. Shepp) demonstrate that the bassist learned much from his time as Shepp's student. Ford is back on soprano for Shepp's ballad Steam and alto for the furious workout of Shepp's Ujaama. The career of Yusef Lateef has been among the most diverse in jazz. Sharpe's Gentle Giant (Bro. Lateef) captures the exotic nature of Lateef's music, with Ford's haunting flute prominent. Lateef's rhythmic Morning suggests a tribal song at daybreak in Africa, with the rhythm section providing a chant-like vamp behind Ford's alto and Blake playing a droning pizzicato line. Throughout the date Sharpe's basslines glue the rhythm section together and his solos are on the money. Lateef's rapid-fire Beacuse They Love Me leans toward avant-garde jazz, with some of the most risk-taking solos of the date. This CD is easily one of Avery Sharpe's best efforts as a leader. ~ Ken Dryden, Rovi

1		Big Mac (Bro. Tyner)
2		Ballad for Aisha
3		Fly with the Wind
4		The Chief (Bro. Shepp)
5		Steam
6		Ujaama
7		Gentle Giant (Bro. Lateef)
8		Morning
9		Because They Love Me

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