Antonio Hart - Here I Stand (1997/2019)

One cannot help but be impressed by the versatility that altoist Antonio Hart shows throughout this set. He plays with the intensity of John Coltrane on "The Community," utilizes his soprano on the light reggae groove of "True Friends," jams a boppish rendition of "Flamingo" in a trio with organist Shirley Scott (who plays effective piano on the blues "Like My Own"), sounds like a mixture of Richie Cole and Paquito D'Rivera on the Afro-Cuban "Ven Devorame Otra Vez" (which has a vocal sample of three Latin singers that fits in well), and also plays more advanced music that utilizes three or four other horns (a little reminiscent of Herbie Hancock's "Speak Like a Child"). Overall, Hart's music generally fits into the modern mainstream, but it avoids being predictable or merely revisiting the past. The only minus to this program is the closing piece, which has an annoying rap by Jessica Care Moore, but that can easily be skipped. Otherwise, this is a well-conceived and highly recommended set, one of Antonio Hart's most rewarding to date.