Search - Cedar Walton :: As Long As There's Music

A Very Good Quintet Outing........

Robert J. Ament | Ballwin, MO United States | 12/02/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"featuring a hard-bop extremely versatile and dazzling pianist on a selection of originals and uncommon standards. Four of the eight selections are compositions of Cedar Walton's who may be under rated as a composer. This was recorded in July 1990 and features two horn men, Terence Blanchard and Jesse Davis relatively early in their careers. Supposedly this was the first recording session for Jesse Davis who shows some influences of Cannonball Adderley on this set. The other members of the quintet are the late drummer Billy Higgins and bassist David Williams who have made numerous trio recordings with Walton.The program explores different moods and features good harmony between the horns with adequate space for everyone as soloists.My favorite selections are "Young and Foolish", the Bobby Troup composition, "Meaning of the Blues" , one of the originals, "Groundwork" spotlighting the capabilities of Billy Higgins, and Thelonious Monk's "Pannonica" which features some excellent muted trumpet by Terrence Blanchard.This may be right for you if you like hard bop, excellent piano, any of the musicians, or just quintet jazz."