Though Evans was born in New Jersey, he’s really a Philadelphia homeboy and this album is dedicated to that city and some of his favourite musicians there. Sadly, bassist Charles Fambrough, whose joyful uplifting modal composition ‘One For Honor’ opens the album, died a few months after this album was recorded. Basically it’s an exceptionally satisfying trio date with Evans stalwart Burno and either veteran Landham or (especially on Chris Beck’s tricky ‘Hodge Podge’) fresh-sounding youngster Anwar Marshall on drums. On the brighter tempos like ‘As Is’, Evans’ playing is at times Tyneresque, robustly buoyant, hard-swinging, rhythmically exciting, harmonically inventive, but always with strong melodic content. In contrast, on the two ballads, his only original on the date ‘Dita’ and Herbie Hancock’s seldom-heard ‘Just Enough’ (unaccompanied), his touch is tender and sensitive. One of Philly’s little-known legendary jazzmen, Larry McKenna enriches his two appearances (on Burno’s moody blues ‘Gray’s Ferry’ and the only standard, ‘Time After Time’) with moving timeless tenor. The other artists whose tunes are featured include Shirley Scott, Duane Eubanks, and Eddie Green, whose ‘Shades of Green’ is a relaxed highlight. Since Evans’ earlier stint with Criss Cross ended, he deserves to have a label get behind him. Posi-Tone producer Marc Free seems to be doing just that.