Two Shades of Nude

"A former Mingus Big Band member and Eddie Palmieri sideman, trombonist-composer-arranger Doug Beavers assembled a fine New York crew for his second outing as leader. There are several fine originals here: the exhilarating title track; "Lapse," a beautiful ballad feature for pianist Henry Hey; the brooding, suitelike "Brink"; and the dynamic "Scurry," featuring some heated exchanges between trumpeter Alex Sipiagin and tenor saxophonist Marc Mommaas. But the nonet also turns in thoughtful reinventions of Clare Fischer's "Pensativa," Chick Corea's "Gemini," Tony Williams' "Hand Jive" and McCoy Tyner's "Blues on the Corner." Exceptional work throughout."