This is a surprising release from
Kenny Burrell, for the veteran guitarist plays half of the selections on acoustic guitar and does a very effective job giving a bossa nova rhythm (a la
Laurindo Almeida and
Charlie Byrd) to some of the tunes. The CD reissue, which also features bassist
John Heard, drummer
Roy McCurdy and percussionist
Kenneth Nash, is mostly laidback, although the renditions of
Billy Strayhorn's "U.M.M.G." and "Stolen Moments" swing. Best are the more lyrical pieces (such as "My Ship" and an unaccompanied "Lost In the Stars"), which allow
Burrell to show off his pretty tone.
–
Scott Yanow, Rovi