On his Criss Cross debut, tenor saxophonist Marcus Strickland offers a program of ballads, mixing original compositions and interpretations of classics - the songbook standard "What's New", Wayne Shorter's "Pinocchio", James Brown's "It's a Man's Man's World". Not yet thirty at the time of the recording date, Strickland displays a ravishing tone and a lyric sensibility that belies his youth. His fellow musicians consist of pianist David Bryant, bassist Ben Williams and drummer E.J. Strickland with harpist Brandee Q. Younger appears on one title.