Bassist Henry Franklins 1972 release for Black Jazz, The Skipper,is one of the highlights in a label catalog full of many, and his 1974follow-up, The Skipper at Home (The Skipper is Franklins nickname),lives up to its predecessors high standard and might even surpassit. Which is no surprise given that a lot of the same players are onit, including trumpeter/flugelhornist Oscar Brashear, tenor/sopranosaxophonist Charles Owens, and pianist Bill Henderson (here billed asKemang Sunduza). But The Skipper at Home also boasts ace talents likekeyboardist Kirk Lightsey (memorably featured on the Roland HaynesBlack Jazz release 2nd Wave), trombonist Al Hall, Jr. (who appearedon Black Jazz releases from Doug Carn, Chester Thompson, andCalvin Keys), and drummer Leon Ndugu Chancler, whos played witheveryone from Miles Davis to Joe Henderson. The result is an albumthat, like The Skipper, is rooted in bop but one that nods to some ofthe currents that were swirling in jazz at the time; its a little freer,a little more electric. And, as is true of just about every Black Jazzrelease, the ensemble work is remarkably intuitive and swinging, driven byFranklins melodic, inventive bass playing. The Skipper at Home has never been reissued on vinyl outside of Japan, and itsnever sounded better thanks to Mike Milchners remastering. Pat Thomas liner notes complete the package. A beautiful record.