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Marian McPartland rarely turns out dull recordings, but this bossa nova album from the early 1960s has a lot working against it. She's stuck with a primitive sounding Wurlitzer electric piano on several tracks, while the monotonous percussion of drummer Dave Bailey, augmented by Ralph Dorsey's conga drums and Bob Crowder's tambourine, grows tiresome after a few songs. McPartland's rarely heard compositions "With You in Mind" and "Stranger in a Dream" sound better without the bossa nova rhythm on other albums. Her successes include the jaunty take of "Sweet and Lovely," and the exotic interpretation of "On Green Dolphin Street." Fortunately, her aggressive take of "Straight, No Chaser" finds the Latin rhythm a bit more subdued than the other tracks. Bassist Ben Tucker is outstanding throughout the session. Originally recorded for the long-defunct Time in 1963 and later reissued by Bainbridge on both LP and CD, it is now out of print due to the demise of the latter label. ~ Ken Dryden
