Ervin was sadly short-lived (1930-70) but made a significant impact, initially through his contributions to such classics as Mingus Ah Um, Blues And Roots and part of Mingus Dynasty. Leaving the bassist for the first time in autumn 1960 to freelance, That’s It! was the debut album under his own name (to be followed by many more in the middle-1960s with people like Jaki Byard and Alan Dawson). As the sole front-line horn, Ervin has a lot of exposure with his scorching tone and biting delivery, which is readily appreciated on the two standards, ‘Speak Low’ and ‘Poinciana’. But his original material is fascinating too, with ‘Mojo’ and ‘Uranus’ exploiting a polytonal approach to improvisation that was less evident in his previous work. The continuity is strong, though, with Parlan on piano and Tucker being a compelling, Mingus-influenced bassist, both suitably featured on the ultra-slow ‘Booker’s Blues’.

The fact that Parlan originally appeared (for contractual reasons) under the pseudonym of ‘Felix Krull’ is given away by one uncorrected reference in reprinting producer Nat Hentoff’s notes, but that can be forgiven in view of the excellent remastering by Candid’s new owners.