1. Asia Minor
2. Manhattan, 3 A.M.
3. Where The Rain Begins
4. Blues In Una Sea
5. A Child's Dream
6. Design
7. Everything Happens To Me
8. Party Song
0ne of the most attractive features of this release is that it actually
uses the leader's regular working band. So many discs now ( even the
live sessions ) utilise an aggregation of so called star players in
an attempt on the part of the recording company to garner greater
interest and, consequently, greater sales. While one can appreciate
this attitude with today's difficult markets, the public do not always
have the best of this deal as most bands are much tighter and more
coherent in their normal format. On the majority of occasions the
performers are more relaxed and the inspiration flows a little more
freely. There are obviously times when an added player can act as
a catalyst to spark new ideas, but in the case of a band such as this
there is no necessity for any added stimulus.
Tom Harrell has been recognised for many years now as one of the finest
trumpet players in modern music and he occupies an area formerly associated
with such as Art Farmer and Kenny Dorham in that he performs with
great sensitivity and a lyrical rather than brash approach . His improvisations
are always masterful constructions with delicate shadings of tone
and balance. All of the compositions here are by Harrell, except for
" Everything Happens To me ", and they reflect his performing
style as well by being carefully constructed and varied in style.
Jimmy Greene on tenor saxophone is a new name to me and is a most
interesting player . He comes squarely into the post Coltrane category
but shows many influences including Joe Henderson and to my ears more
than a touch of the late great Booker Ervin in his delivery and phrasing.
He plays with a big open sound and has the ability to cook without
cramming a note into every available space - he has a maturity of
performance far in advance of his years and is a name to look out
for in the future.
Xavier Davis is an excellent pianist with hints of
Gene Harris and Bobby Timmons in his almost funky stylings - once
again he is an instrumentalist capable of driving without overplaying.
The bass and drums are a very tight unit and whilst not heard to any
great degree in a solo capacity underpin each track most effectively.
This is modern mainstream jazz of the highest calibre - miss it at
your peril !
Dick Stafford
CD Reviews
RCA Bluebird CD
09026 63910 2
