Freddie Hubbard's "Breaking Point" from 1964 was the first record for the Blue Note label that featured drummer Joe Chambers. He has since played with the likes of Bobby Hutcherson, Sam Rivers, Wayne Shorter and Donald Byrd. "Mirrors" is Chambers' first CD for Blue Note as a band leader. Together with Ira Coleman (bass), Mulgrew Miller (piano), Eddie Henderson (trumpet) and Vincent Herring (saxophone),
… he recorded nine, mostly self-written pieces in two days. The quintet generally sounds quite traditional, with a different time signature here and there and a few South American rhythms. In the drums / vibraphone solo piece "Circles", however, Chambers opts for a somewhat freer, more modern approach. Striking is the beautiful rendition of Janet Jackson's "Come back to me". (W.vd.Z.) _more