These dozen songs, recorded by pianist Richie Beirach during a two-day studio session, range from fluid hard-hitting quintet workouts to intimate duos and trios that make the most of the pianist's subtle voicings and rhythmic drive. The first CD, from the second day, was recorded live in front of an appreciative invited audience, while the second disc consists of studio recordings from day one. Comprised of a group of close friends, rather than a working unit, the band delivers the relaxed power of a smoking club session with a repertoire mixing Beirach originals with standards that, as sleeve notes suggest, were NYC club favourites at the time. ‘Con Alma’, referencing Beirach's time with Stan Getz, hints at samba but switches to speedy swing, Randy Brecker heads up the rhythm section on a spritely ‘Alone Together’ and plays sensitive lead on ‘My Funny Valentine’, here presented as a piano and trumpet duet. The set opens and closes with two quintet readings of Beirach's harmonically supple ‘Paradox’, the live cut up-tempo, the studio version more of a lope. As on the other quintet tracks, Beirach combines the influences of McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea and Bill Evans into a personal voice. But it is on the duos and trios that the American pianist really comes into his own and it is these tracks that deliver the album's highlights. His piano trio reading of Leonard Bernstein's bittersweet ballad ‘Some Other Time’ is made exquisite by including Bill Evans’‘ Peace Piece’ as an introduction, while saxophonist Michael Brecker is an assured presence on the title-track, a sombre trio featuring piano and bowed bass, and ‘Sunday Song’, a ballad duet with the leader. With both of these compositions featured twice, there is a chance to appreciate the creative wellspring that made the late saxophonist an inspirational jazz great.