The Stepper

nice find but, a bit more drumming then I care for....

Xanadu reminding the jazz world of the talent in their midst, circa 1977. Frank Butler would only gain wide public recognition for his work on Seven Steps To Heaven, but the full beauty of his craft behind the kit is on display here. Don Schilitten, Xanadu's chief, had a vision which produced classics, Frank Butler is a part of that story. For his recorded debut, all of the pieces were assembled, fellow Xanadu artist, pianist Dolo Coker, wrote the title song to gift his friend a 17 minute drum master class exhibition. If that's not your thing, the b side is a more conventional bop workout, a trio version of Bird's Au Privave, 2 other Coker originals and a tenor feature for Jack Montrose, the Rainger/Robin chestnut, Easy Living. Butler hand picked he and bassist Monty Budwig being compatible, personally. That compatibility lends the quartet an offhand comfortable sounding nature, like they had worked together forever. Frank's career which began at the emergence of bebop had yet to fully flower due to the debilitating effects of another, notorious flower. Xanadu set the record straight here and that clarity of vision is a thing of beauty, these remasters are a revelation.

very good

pleased