Live at the Berlin Philharmonic, 1977

4-STARS This intense moment in time captures US pianist Hal Galper leading a volatile quintet with the fabled Brecker brothers - trumpeter Randy and the late Mike on tenor saxophone, bassist Wayne Dockery and drummer Bob Moses. The double CD opens by establishing the band's take-no-prisoners ethos with Now Hear This, Galper's creative fire churning and spinning over the relentless pace of bass and drums while both Breckers are in incandescent form, soloing and in terse unison choruses. The 25-minute Speak With a Single Voice picks up the torch with a vengeance, things intensifying to volcanic levels. Meanwhile, the only cover is an expansive piano-sax exploration of the ballad I'll Never Stop Loving You and a gospel joyousness to Hey Fool. At a time when straight ahead jazz was competing with fusion, this high-flying acoustic quintet generated a sizzling electricity of its own.