The album was recorded in concert at Cafe des Copains in Toronto in 1985, while pianist Harold Mabern was in residence there.[1] The music was broadcast on the radio.[2] Most of the tracks are jazz standards; two are Mabern originals; and one is Wayne Shorter's "House of Jade".[2]
Release and reception
Joy Spring was released by Sackville Records on LP.[3] They reissued it, on CD, around 2006,[3] with two tracks โ "Indian Summer" and "Manhattan" โ added.[1] The JazzTimes reviewer commented that Mabern "builds vast musical architectures, founded on his powerful left hand and elaborated by his fleet, commanding right."[3]