Following his debut recording as a leader for Blue Note in 1959, Walter Davis, Jr. had to wait nearly two decades before recording another full album of his own, when he began work on a series of records for Denon. This is the third and final session he made for the Japanese label, joined by two promising young musicians, bassist Tom Barney and drummer Kenny Washington (the latter at the very start of his career, long before he became the bassist of choice during the 1990s). Davis is rather laid-back on a good part of the date, not showing the fireworks he is capable of (such as Scorpio Rising, a furious work that is easily his best-known composition). Tempus Fugit features Washington extensively, while Davis exhibits only a bit of the fire one would expect in his interpretation of this well-known Bud Powell piece. Night Song is a funky piece in a Far Eastern setting, building slowly from a single riff, showcasing Barney on electric bass. Following his languid Walter's Ballad, Davis finally shows a bit of fire in his romp through his Seven of Swords, though Washington also gets in a pulsating solo. The album concludes with a stirring solo piano version of the hymn God Is Our Father. Long out of print, this LP is the hardest of Davis' Denon recording to acquire. ~ Ken Dryden, Rovi

1		Tempus Fugit
2		Night Song
3		Jeannie
4		Walter's Ballad
5		Seven of Sword
6		God Is Our Father

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