The Long Haul

Album Review

On their Criss Cross follow-up to Upward and Onward, One For All mainly concentrate on original group member compositions, continuing to hone the neo-bop these musicians have become known for over the past decade. The Long Haul was recorded after a single gig in New York, keeping the improvisatory freshness of the session bright. While the members of One For All perform in this manifestation only occasionally, they manage to share the spotlight and provide an unbridled musical camaraderie (a nineties version of the Jazz Messengers would not be far off the mark.) Among the highlights are drummer Joe Farnsworth's classic Coltrane quartet influenced opener "A Cry For Understanding," the Latin tinged, three horn melody on "Echoes In the Night," pianist David Hazeltine's reflective contributions "The Poo" and "Summer Nights" the later starts to sizzle mid way through into lazy funk before the initial theme gently reappears. Tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander's offerings "Stash" and "The Long Haul" provide Alexander, trumpeter Jim Rotondi, trombonist Steve Davis, and Hazeltine vehicles to stretch out while maintaining collective structure. Concluding the disc is the torrid tempo group composition "Nothin to It" which leaves no doubt that these musicians show no sign of slowing down anytime soon.