It's been 14 years since highly respected veteran bassist Cannon brought out an album under his own name. You probably remember him best from lengthy spells with the Roy Hargrove Quintet and the McCoy Tyner Trio. He's a very versatile musician who can cover post-bop, funk, ballads, bossa and the rest. He also wears at least four hats – bassist, composer, arranger and producer. Cuban musicians love his playing. The combinations vary from two quintets (Bartz and Pelt or Bartz and Eubanks), quartets with Slagle or Irby (Kenny Barron is on top form during ‘Prelude to a Kiss’), trio (Cannon's own working group), duo (a gospel track with Russell Malone) and a final poignant solo performance on ‘Dream That Dream’. Every track has really tasteful spots. Gerald's ballad, ‘A Thought’, is a highlight, as is ‘Gary's Tune’ with Bartz at his distinguished best over a wonderfully soulful, constantly swinging drum track by Calhoun, with whom Cannon plays in a band that honours another of his former bosses, Elvin Jones. He's not only a great jazz bassist (with Sam Jones a big influence, by the way), but also a visual artist, who paints with a similar passion.