OTB - Spiral Staircase (1989)

This release from the co-op hard bop group Out Of The Blue was most notable for adding pianist Renee Rosnes to the strong lineup (trumpeter Michael Philip Mossman, altoist Steve Wilson, tenor-saxophonist Ralph Bowen, bassist Kenny Davis and drummer Billy Drummond). Rosnes wrote the opening selection (the driving "North Of The Border") and at this point was not only a strong soloist inspired by McCoy Tyner but an excellent accompanist behind the horns. Trumpeter Michael Mossman is the most impressive soloist in the group, playing in the Freddie Hubbard/Lee Morgan tradition. Four of Mossman's originals make up the majority of the program; Bowen and Wilson also contributed a song apiece. This O.T.B. release finds the group moving a bit beyond their original role model (Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers) to create a fresh "in the tradition" hard bop-based style of their own.

Tracklist:
1-1. Out Of The Blue - North Of The Border (07:47)
1-2. Out Of The Blue - Samba LaRue (06:36)
1-3. Out Of The Blue - The Perpetrator (06:33)
1-4. Out Of The Blue - Spiral Staircase (06:40)
1-5. Out Of The Blue - Gerri-Ann (05:50)
1-6. Out Of The Blue - Ika Sashi (07:47)
1-7. Out Of The Blue - Input (06:29)