Star performers in Ornette Coleman's legendary bands, Cherry and Blackwell further developed their chemistry on this wonderfully eclectic session that shows their innate ability to think and sound big, all the while staying small. The gaggle of instruments Cherry brings to the table, from pocket trumpet to keyboards and African banjo-like dossun n'goni, significantly broadens the textural palette of the music, but while this is a major part of the appeal it is arguably not as important as the excellent composing and improvising that draws so liberally from all areas of African-American, Caribbean and African music without sounding superficially magpie-ish. Cherry has as engrossing a melodic sensibility as Blackwell does polyrhythmic nous. The magic is in the music because of their unforced, unhurried energy and ability to break phrases and free up the pulse without sounding stilted. A fine reading of Monk's ‘Bemsha Swing’ is a great example, though the sauntering, reggae-ish dedication to tenor saxophonist and Skatalites legend Roland Alphonso is an absolute delight.