Guitarist Bobby Broom, who played with Sonny Rollins' band for five years, on this CD had his first opportunity to lead his own record date in a decade. The best moments on the quartet session with pianist Ron Perillo, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer Lewis Nash are during such standards as Wes Montgomery's "Twisted Blues," "How About You," and "Pent-Up House." Broom has his own sound within the Wes Montgomery/George Benson tradition and swings but in a consistently thoughtful way. His three originals are less interesting and drier than the standards, but still worthwhile. Bobby Broom, who is in fine form throughout No Hype Blues, deserves to be much better known as a hard bop soloist. ~ Scott Yanow

Rovi