Trombonist
Fred Wesley, best-known for his long-term association with
James Brown, has long expressed the desire to play jazz. This is mostly a jazz-oriented CD although he hedges his bets a little with "Honey Love" (which has a cute vocal by
Wesley over a calypso groove), an R&B-ish
Carmen Lundy vocal on "Love We Had Stays On My Mind," the ballad "Eyes So Beautiful" and the funky "D-Cup And Up." But on the other six numbers
Wesley plays in a boppish style influenced most by
J.J. Johnson and there is a suitable amount of solo space for altoist
Maceo Parker (heard at his best when trying to emulate
Hank Crawford), trumpeter
Stanton Davis and a restrained but tasteful
Geri Allen on piano. Highlights include "Rockin' In Rhythm,"
Thelonious Monk's "Bright Mississippi" and "Birks Works" on the mixed but generally enjoyable bag. ~ Scott Yanow