James Clay only led two record sessions before settling in obscurity in Texas, where he would not be rediscovered until the late '80s.
Cannonball Adderley helped present him on Riverside in 1960, so it seemed fair that
Clay utilized several of
Adderley's sidemen on this session (cornetist
Nat Adderley or vibraphonist
Victor Feldman, bassist
Sam Jones, and drummer
Louis Hayes) along with a young
Gene Harris on piano.
Clay splits his time between his lyrical flute and tough tenor, proving to be an excellent bop-based improviser. [The CD reissue adds two alternate takes to the original LP program, highlighted by
Feldman's "New Delhi," "Come Rain or Come Shine," and Nat's blues "Pockets."]