Comin' on Strong ranks among James Moody's most challenging and rewarding sessions -- with its complex rhythms and mercurial tempos, the material is more like a series of obstacle courses than a collection of melodies, but Moody and his collaborators navigate the twists and turns with dexterity and grace. Paired with Kenny Barron on piano as well as George Eskridge on guitar, Chris White on bass, and Rudy Collins on drums, Moody reinvents standards like "I've Grown Accustomed to Your Face" and "Autumn Leaves," infusing their familiar strains with ideas drawn from post-bop and avant-garde sensibilities. The transformation is seamless, however, and even the most radical ideas seem perfectly logical.