Five of the six selections on this CD reissue feature drummer
Art Taylor in an all-star sextet of mostly young players comprised of trumpeter
Donald Byrd, altoist
Jackie McLean,
Charlie Rouse on tenor, pianist
Ray Bryant, and bassist
Wendell Marshall. Among the highpoints of the 1957 hard bop date are the original version of
Bryant's popular "Cubano Chant" and strong renditions of two
Thelonious Monk tunes ("Off Minor" and "Well, You Needn't") cut just prior to the pianist/composer's discovery by the jazz public.
Bryant is the most mature of the soloists, but the three horn players were already starting to develop their own highly individual sounds. The remaining track (a version of
Jimmy Heath's "C.T.A.") is played by the quartet of
Taylor, tenor saxophonist
John Coltrane, pianist
Red Garland, and bassist
Paul Chambers and is a leftover (although a good one) from another session.