Phipps is best known as Sluggo, the all-purpose reedman with Oingo Boingo. He is a jazzman at heart and this, his first solo effort, contains few, if any, nods to new wave schizophrenia. On hand for the four ensemble numbers are Phipps's frequent collaborators on his extra-Boingolar activities: pianist John Larkin, the workhorse bassist Noah Young and drummer Steve Larantz.

Descended from the bel canto line of tenor saxophonists, founded by Coleman Hawkins, Phipps has a thick, broad tone that is pulled up from the gut, as opposed to the light, airy tone of the Lester Young-inflected players. Of course, Phipps's conception is strained through Coltrane, Shepp, Ayler et al, but he is more than cognizant of the traditional tenors.

There's a fullness of sound on the ensemble pieces that gives the illusion of the quartet being a larger group. However, when Phipps lays out on "Decision," the rhythm section has the effect of instantly moving from heavyweight to welterweight intensity. "Elevation" is Phipps's musical show of strength as he slashes his way through this uptempo freebopper.

The title track is an overdubbed piece with Phipps playing soprano, alto, tenor, baritone and bass saxophones. Presumably it's Phipps's angle on the current saxophone small group vogue but it comes off as a musical ball of snakes. The interaction that's lacking between the five separate lines is caught on the intuitive "One on One" duet with Young. "Woke up Clipped" is Phipps's solo reading of an old Ben Webster tune and it's an exemplary piece of jazz repertory along the same lines as Eric Dolphy's reworking of "God Bless The Child." Unlike Dolphy, Phipps not only pays his respects to the melody but to Hot Lips Page's trumpet counterpoint as well.