Search - Milt Jackson :: Jazz'n Samba (24bt)

Milt Jackson at the top of his form

Steve Wray | Fort Wayne, IN | 01/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a marvelous album by Milt Jackson. He was always great to hear, and I can think of no better album by him than this one. He's surrounded by a small group that is typical of the setting he preferred when recording away from the MJQ. At that time, he used tenor player Jimmy Heath regularly, both as soloist and arranger. For this album, it was decided to have side 1 (of the vinyl LP) with a piano (Tommy Flanagan) and a hard bop style; side 2 consists of sambas, and Flanagan is replaced by two guitars. The whole album is given a great lift by the presence of bassist Richard Davis, whose lively playing is typical of his work. Connie Kay's tasty drumming is another plus. The first 4 tracks (i.e. side 1 of the LP) were included on the U.S. CD reissue of Jackson's "Statements" album. The entire album should be reissued in the U.S."