In this second meeting between pedal steel guitarist
Buddy Emmons and
jazz guitarist
Lenny Breau, they find common ground as they venture through a session mixing
jazz standards and original compositions, accompanied by keyboardist
Randy Goodrum, bassist
Charles Dungey, and drummer
Kenny Malone. "Minors Aloud" is a mid-tempo
blues jointly written by
Emmons and
Breau, though all of the individual solos are rather perfunctory.
Breau's salute to
Johann Sebastian Bach, "Bach's Bouree," opens with his gorgeous unaccompanied solo; after the band is added, it maintains its magic with understated brushwork by
Malone. The interpretation of "Scrapple From the Apple" has a bizarre quiet introduction, but quickly transforms into a cooker. The pedal steel definitely gives a rather unique sound to
Benny Golson's "Killer Joe," though
Breau is clearly the more interesting soloist. "Compared to What," which was a huge hit for
Les McCann and
Eddie Harris, is an unqualified dud, with a completely forgettable vocal by
Emmons. Flying Fish was always interested in mixing musicians from
country and
jazz; this somewhat uneven date should be considered at least a partial success. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
