Don Lanphere - Like a Bird [CD]

Few veterans of the classic bebop era were still active in 2000, and even fewer were still in their musical prime. Don Lanphere is a major exception. Rather than just recreating the past (which in his case includes leading a date that featured Fats Navarro), Lanphere always looks ahead. "Like a Bird," is one more in a string of excellent Don Lanphere recordings made since 1980, in this instance using the classic tenor/organ/guitar/drums grouping for the first time in his long and storied career. The boppish saxes of Lanphere, the clean strumming of Bay-area guitarist Mimi Fox along with former Motown drummer Mel Brown's and Barney McClure's organ groove and soul, produce a swinging, unique group sound. Originally released in 2000.