What a remarkable thing. Here is the legendary, late Hal Russell and his fine NRG Ensemble jamming with Cleveland native Charles Tyler (on all but two cuts). This is the kind of session that is always rumored, or fans wish would happen, but almost never does. In any case, the proceedings live up to their potential. The non-Tyler cut is the opener, Sinus Up, composed by bassist, guitarist, and trumpeter Brian Sandstrom. It includes a percussive, minimal figure built up on the guitar as the primary rhythm instrument. It's quick, furiously dramatic, and features killer guitar and vibes solos. Poodle Up is a multiple-themed tune typical of Russell, which features him playing tenor and soloing first in a chase melody, followed by Tyler on baritone, who uses the modal blues in his own solo. The band charges with these 12-note runs that alternate in scale and pitch and repeat until a new theme is introduced, but surprise -- it's the old theme restated in a different cadence. Mars Williams composed Sponge, and it is a crazy, loopy, almost carnival-like piece where clowns chase each other through the crowd. Sandstrom stabs into the center of the tune on his trumpet solo and he's followed by Tyler's extroverted, RB-honking baritone solo, which makes the rest of the band charge up behind him and carry it out. As on any NRG Ensemble recording, there are no dull moments, but this one is supplanted by the joy, wisdom, and immaculate sense of the unknown that Charles Tyler brought to the date. ~ Thom Jurek, Rovi