Recorded at the studio of nominal leader Dorsey and launching his new label, this is a typical programme of Mabern's playing as well as a posthumous tribute. By the time of his death two months after the sessions, the Memphis-born pianist had been a reliably entertaining performer for at least five-and-a-half decades (he toured Europe with Wes Montgomery in 1965, as shown by the recent reissue In Paris: The Definitive ORTF Recording). Mabern's strength in applying a churchy blues style to both standards and soul anthems is well in evidence here, from the opening ‘Rakin’ And Scrapin'' (a reprise from his 1969 debut album) to a final up-tempo ‘Moment's Notice’. The latter also a solo from Clark who, beyond his continuing association with the Headhunters group, is a powerful straight-ahead post-bop drummer.

Unfortunately, despite a solid CV and a teaching post at Berklee, Dorsey doesn't come across so well: one might forgive his dodgy intonation if there was also some shape to his two solo features, but they certainly make his rhythm-section work sound superior. But definitely worth a listen for Mabern's funky farewell.