On tenor saxophonist
Don Braden
's second recording as a leader he adds trombonist
Steve Turre
to the group that played on
Braden
's debut -- trumpeter
Tom Harrell
, pianist
Benny Green
, bassist
Christian McBride
, and drummer
Carl Allen
-- to perform four originals, two
standards
, and two
jazz
classics.
's compositions and arrangements are filled with harmonic and rhythmic twists and turns that make the music fresh, especially where the entire sextet is featured.
's
"Father Time"
begins with a brief collective improvisation that segues into a medium-fast groove.
's arrangement of
"When You Wish Upon a Star"
is characterized by numerous shifts between 3/4 and 4/4 throughout the piece, which gives it a different flavor.
"Mr C.M.B.,"
a dedication to
McBride
, begins with
Harrell
and
Turre
playing a medium-fast melody in 4/4 that's reminiscent of
"Mr. P.C.,"
with
answering them in the slower 3/4 middle section, with all the horns joining in on the final section.
Duke Ellington
"Sophisticated Lady,"
normally played as a
ballad
, is transformed into finger poppin'
swing
, while the
standard
"Falling in Love With Love"
is taken at a much faster tempo than usual.
's distinctive tenor sound and improvisational ideas stand out throughout this recording, as does
's big-toned bass and
Allen
's dynamic drumming. This is one of 1993's best releases, and is a great step in
's rapid development. ~ Greg Turner