It is easy to understand why Dave Young is the one of the most in-demand bassists in Canada. With a fat tone and a gift for melodic solos similar to Ray Brown and Niels Pedersen, Young is joined for a pair of tunes by five different pianists. Oscar Peterson, with whom Young first recorded as a sideman in 1980, contributed a bluesy original ("OP & D") for the date, while he is also more than willing to take a backseat to Young. The bassist plays arco with Cedar Walton in a warm rendition of the venerable standard "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"; this session marked their first recording together. Tommy Flanagan provides an elegant backdrop for Young during "In a Sentimental Mood." The sparks fly in his duet with John Hicks of Benny Golson's "Stablemates." The masterful duet with Mulgrew Miller of the classic bop tune "Hot House" uncovers new facets within this decades-old jewel.

-Ken Dryden