Drummer Art Lillard has long been an established jazz musician in the New York City area, but he originally hails from Florida just like so many luminaries of his generation and just like them, was mentored by the late great Ira Sullivan. Also a Berklee College of Music graduate, who majored in arranging and composition, his band Blue Heaven, moreso than any contemporary New York jazz group, has been able to present an authentic cross-section of unique straight-ahead jazz music, ranging from Dixieland to Bebop and beyond. He has a vast resume, having recorded and played with giants like Jaki Byard, Junior Cook, Buddy DeFranco, Arturo O’Farrill, and countless others. On this outing he has decided to feature a super rare appearance of legendary guitarist William Ash, who shines brightly above the gusty, thick organic grooves, unleashed within these excellent arrangements. Half of which are done by Art himself, and the other half primarily by Mark McCarr