STUDIO SEPTET
John M. | 08/18/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Well make it 4 stars. The DDD sound quality is not on a par with Criss Cross's and Toussaint sounds a bit weary at times.--It's a new edition of the Sweet Basil sextet/septet with Wallace Roney replacing Terrence Blanchard and Kenny Garrett in for Donald Harrison. Jean Toussaint on tenor and Tim Williams trombone round out the front line. It's a studio session and I don't know if they ever played live or if Roney and Garrett were just brought in for the session. I don't see them ever playing with Art again. 6 of the 9 tunes had been recorded once before by previous Messenger units with Minor's Holiday dating all the way back to 1955. Caravan is the most well known. Rooney, Garrett and Toussaint each supply new originals----70 mins.-- Rec. 9/86"