Mike Melito's The Right Time features nine songs that come squarely from the bop and hard bop traditions. The set is an interesting one from the standpoint of compositions, featuring a mix of standards, originals and two lesser known songs from the pen of John Coltrane.
This recording has an old school sound—the songs always swing, and the solos are harmonically based. Melito is admittedly reverent of classic jazz, and it shows here. According to the liner notes, the goal was to put together a group capable of making pleasing melodic statements without having to resort to blinding to displays of virtuosity or dissonant outside playing. Given these goals, the album succeeds reasonably well. All of the players assembled for this album are quite capable or contributing a good solo, and Melito keeps the interplay crisp and swinging.
If this album does not break much new ground, it is still likely to please fans of classic bop and hard bop.