It's been more than a decade since trumpeter Duane Eubanks released his sophomore release Second Take on TCB records. During his absence, he's been fine-tuning his composer's craft and now returns to the studio with a tasty set of originals and a cover of mentor Marcus Miller's light and airy waltz ‘Holding Hands’. Eubanks' writing takes in the post-bop swing of ‘Purple Blue and Red’, late-night R&B with ‘Rosie’ and the funky ‘Dance with Aleta’. The brass harmonies are warm and blue-edged, Eubanks and saxophonist Abraham Burton blend well and the leader's themes make good platforms to stretch out on. Star turn has to be pianist Marc Cary who solos with purpose and seems to have an endless store of voicings, fills and embellishments. Tenor saxophonist Burton mixes a round soulful sound with a penchant for oblique Wayne Shorterish phrasing while Eubanks is slightly brittle and more centred in his approach. Solid bass and drums round out a nice album, though with tempos clustering in the middle range, it's best taken piecemeal.