Ruslan Khain: For Medicinal Purposes Only!

"For Medicinal Purposes Only!" is an up-tempo swingera thorny, cool jazz-ish melody played with hard-bop abandon by bassist Ruslan Khain and his able colleagues. Tenor saxophonist Chris Byars's and trumpeter Yoshi Okazaki's sinuous, fiery yet even-keeled solos stand out. Khain is a fine soloist as well, though he's ill served by the muddy recording of his instrument. He and drummer Phil Stewart form a good rhythm team, maintaining a swinging, smooth and assured tempo. As a composer, Khain's complex melodic line is worthy of Gerry Mulligan or Shorty Rogers. Byars and Okazaki play it down with admirable precision and fire. A good choice for the title trackthis is arguably the cookin'-est thing on the album.