Greg Abate has got a rich, soothing tone throughout this 1992 recording and coupled with Roditi's horn work, provides the heart of a classic bop quintet instrumentation. Straight Ahead contains Abate's five original compositions including the title track, which finds Abate and his alto sax evoking memories of Charlie Parker. Joining Abate is pianist Hilton Ruiz and trumpeter Claudio Roditi, not to be ignored are the superb rhythm interpretations of bassist George Mraz and drummer Kenny Washington. Their subtleties provide the framework to this quintets flawless expression.