Solid!

"Anticipating Prestige's 50th anniversary in 1999, producer Todd Barkan combed the files to find out which were the label's most successful records and then, with Hicks, chose nine songs – not all of which are in the Prestige catalog, by the way – for this generation-spanning hard bop quartet to purvey."[1]

The album was recorded at Clinton Recording Studios in New York City on April 25 and May 1, 1998.[2] The four main musicians are tenor saxophonist Eric Alexander, pianist John Hicks, bassist George Mraz, and drummer Idris Muhammad.[1] Trumpeter Jim Rotondi plays on "Little Melonae" and "Straight Street"; vibraphonist Joe Locke substitutes for Alexander on "Fire Waltz".[1] "Light Blue" is played by Hicks alone.[1]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz	[3]

Solid! was released by Milestone Records[3] in 1998. The Penguin Guide to Jazz stated that "Alexander's sound is again tremendous; some of his most precocious solos, vaulting into double-time, are enough to have one reaching for the repeat button".[3] The AllMusic reviewer concluded: "Nothing startling here, but fans of uncompromising modern hard bop will definitely enjoy this."[1]

1. "Solid"
2. "Little Melonae"
3. "Theme for Ernie"
4. "Fire Waltz"
5. "Four"
6. "Star-Crossed Lovers"
7. "My Conception"
8. "Light Blue"
9. "Straight Street"

• Eric Alexander – tenor saxophone
• John Hicks – piano
• George Mraz – bass
• Idris Muhammad – drums
• Jim Rotondi – trumpet (tracks 2, 9)
• Joe Locke – vibraphone (track 4)