B Sharp Jazz Quartet - Tha Go 'Round (1997)

The strongest recording by B Sharp to date, this outing finds the quartet (Randall Willis on tenor and soprano, pianist Rodney Lee, bassist Osama Afifi and drummer Herb Graham, Jr.) performing eight originals by the drummer/leader (two of which were co-written with Lee), Thelonious Monk's "Brilliant Corners," and an unusual version of "Confirmation." Although the latter is a bit routine, lightly funky and mostly dropping out the chord changes, the other selections are very rewarding; the brooding "Mujeres" and the title cut have the best chances of catching on. Willis has grown quite a bit as an improviser, particularly on tenor; Lee is also a strong soloist, and the group sounds quite tight throughout the post-bop set. Recommended.