Jemeel Moondoc Trio, Judy's Bounce (side A)

On this 1982 LP, Jemeel Moondoc's alto is accompanied by the accomplished rhythm section of Air's Fred Hopkins on bass and longtime Ornette sideman Ed Blackwell on drums. It's obviously a fantastic trio and they play well together. At the same time, the concert (it was a live recording) seems like a bit of a pick-up gig—the players certainly know the tunes and play them sensitively, but the chemistry that all three musicians are capable of is not always manifest here. Moondoc's compositions are nice, and Blackwell's drumming is always special, but Judy's Bounce, while consistently enjoyable, does not always live up to the promise of its amazing line-up. The live recording is a bit bright and thin, and the non-descript cover painting doesn't flatter the contents.