This wasn't always the case with Henry Threadgill's band, which proceeded in a more rarefied and deliberate way, at times close to modern conservatoire music, tiptoeing through delicate dissonance. 
Fred Hopkins's bass playing, however, continued to demonstrate that he remains one of the greatest practitioners of his instrument in the world, his playing a blend of secure, rock-like accompaniment and joyous, singing eloquence. 
At Ronnie Scott's, Red Rodney's band was surprisingly crisp and forthright-surprisingly because he might have been expected to coast on his legendary status in bebop and has instead associated himself with younger musicians who play originals <tag "515672">derived</> from bop, funk, Blakey-like soul jazz and Coltrane-inspired almost-free music.   

