David Hazeltine, the consummate composer, arranger and improviser, didn't get to be the artist he is without learning from the masters who came before him. For his 8th Sharp Nine release he pays tribute to his two greatest piano influences, Cedar Walton and Buddy Montgomery, with an all-star quintet featuring the dynamic front line of tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander and vibes virtuoso Joe Locke. For the occasion, Hazeltine has composed a four part suite in appreciation for the inspiration he has found in his mentors' music. Additional highlights of the session are the quintet's renderings of Cedar's tricky composition Shoulders and Buddy's wonderful, but obscure, dedication to his brother, Personage of Wes.