David Murray, who praises from the masters of Swing-era to A. Ayler and covered them, collects his own "spirituals". This is placed as a novel work in his career, but it's no exaggeration to say that this work reveals an essential part of him. David Murray mostly sticks to spirituals on this Japanese import, a quartet outing with pianist Dave Burrell, bassist Fred Hopkins and drummer Ralph Peterson, but that does not mean that all of the improvising is mellow and melodic. There are some peaceful moments on tunes such as "Amazing Grace" and a spirited "Down by the Riverside," but Murray's playing is so violent on "Abel's Blissed Out Blues" as to be almost satirical. A mixed success from the masterful tenor. Scott Yanow