Yet another cracker from the Smalls Live label, this time by a group led by a hard bop driving drummer who has worked with many well-known outfits, in particular that of trumpeter To m Harrell. The dominant force throughout the 80-odd minutes of music is unquestionably Mulgrew Miller, himself a regular trio leader. Like Harold Mabern, Mulgrew gets even better with age. His main solo feature, ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’ is 15 minutes (maybe a little too) long and takes him back to his earliest, most basic gospel roots. On the other tracks both his hands work overtime in strongly structured solos, often at breakneck tempos and his comping is equally inspirational. Take for instance, the opening track, one of two by the late Tom McIntosh – ‘The Cup Bearers’, which features Eric Alexander. I've often said that he's over-exposed on record, but all is forgiven with his absolutely storming solo on ‘Bearers’, urged on by Miller's changes. He's equally on fire for Johnny Griffin's ‘Fifty Six’ and Douglas' tune, ‘Stew Peas’ and also plays with much warmth on his ballad feature ‘A Portrait of You’. Mark Whitfield is also surprisingly good on his solo track, McIntosh's ‘With Malice Towards None’. Wilson isn't heard that often, but his work is also inspired by Mulgrew. New Orleans bassist, Douglas is a solid swinger who really gels with Smith's relentlessly kicking drums. The leader's own hard-hitting solos are in the Art Blakey tradition. A shame this wasn't a double.