Artist Bio Insert Included. Vinyl plays nicely (play-graded). Cover looks great; a few creases near edges; light-scuffing (front/back). Inner-sleeve is rice-paper backed poly. Spine is easy-to-read with mild-wear and developing split near center. Minor shelf-wear along top/bottom-edge and corners. Opening is crisp with signs of light use and a few divots. (Not a cut-out.)
Kei Akagi has long been a vastly underrated jazz pianist. On this stimulating quartet set with tenor saxophonist Rick Margitza, bassist Charles Fambrough, and drummer Willie Jones III, Akagi digs into five of his originals, Fambrough's Bright Eyes, and a memorable and lengthy version of Wayne Shorter's Lester Left Town. Margitza (whose playing on tenor and soprano sometimes hints strongly at John Coltrane) and the alert rhythm section inspire Akagi to some of his finest playing, stretching the hard bop tradition and creating fresh new music.