Harry Verbeke / Rob Agerbeek Quartet - Seven Steps (2016)

Reissue with the latest remastering and the original cover artwork. Comes with a description written in Japanese. Tenorist Harry Verbeke's a hell of a reedman – a Dutch player who's never gotten the notice he should on our side of the Atlantic, but definitely one of the shining stars of the scene in Netherlands over the past 50 years! Harry blows with a sense of soul and bite right from the very first few notes of this gem of a record – working in tight formation with pianist Rob Agerbeek – another tremendous Dutch talent – in a groove that's as soulful and fluid as the best American work of the late 60s or 70s – classic in conception, but really trying to so something new as well, and with a very personal vibe on the tenor solos. Bassist Harry Emmery rounds out the groove with this wonderful warm tone – and drummer James Martin completes the group – on stellar titles that include "Sometimes Bread", "Ladies Birthday", "Seven Steps", "Ghana", and "Off The Top".