Ronnie Cuber - N. Y. C.ats (1997)

Baritonist Ronnie Cuber is in typically swinging and hyper form throughout this fine hard bop quintet date. Trumpeter Ryan Kisor gets in his licks and the rhythm section (pianist Michael Weiss, bassist Andy McKee, and drummer Tony Reedus) is also excellent. The quintet stretches out on three intriguing if not overly memorable Cuber originals (including a ten-and-a-half-minute version of "Mirage"), George Benson's "Mimosa," and three standards, including a very spirited rendition of Charles Mingus' "Better Git in Your Soul." Virtually every Ronnie Cuber recording is worth acquiring by fans of the baritone sax. ~ Scott Yanow