Brighter Days

'Don Braden has long been a top-notch {hard bop} tenor saxophonist. For this quartet date with pianist Xavier Davis, bassist Dwayne Burno, and drummer Cecil Brooks III, the arrangements by Braden and the choice of songs greatly uplift the program. There are many high points, including the opening ballad She's on Her Way, tributes to Stanley Turrentine (Sweet T) and Grover Washington Jr. (Not Yet), a driving Invitation, a duet with drummer Brooks (Underground Groove), and the swinging Cecil Brooks original Montclair. Everything works! This is one of Don Braden's finest recordings so far, a well-conceived and very successful project. '~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide