Pianist
Jesse Green, the son of trombonist
Urbie Green, is in excellent form during
Lift Off. He leads a solid straight-ahead trio (with bassist Paul Rostock and veteran drummer
Bobby Durham) through six standards and four originals, with some guest appearances for guitarist
Joe Cohn. Even at this early stage, when he was not quite 22,
Green possessed excellent technique and a swinging style. The music does not contain many surprises, but the playing is excellent, with the whimsical and speedy "Lift Off" being a highlight. The closing eight-and-a-half-minute "Jazzspeak" has
Green summing up his life up to that point, being quite honest about his own playing and raving about his idol,
Oscar Peterson. ~ Scott Yanow