This CD reissue features trumpeter
Booker Little at the beginning of his tragically brief career. The first six selections find the distinctive soloist playing with a quintet also including the young tenor
George Coleman, pianist
Tommy Flanagan, bassist
Art Davis, and drummer
Max Roach (who was his regular employer at the time).
Little contributed three now-obscure originals and also plays two standards and an early version of
Miles Davis' "Milestones." The remainder of the CD has lengthy versions of "Things Ain't What They Used to Be" and "Blue 'n Boogie" from a jam session that matched
Little with fellow Memphis-based players including
Coleman, altoist
Frank Strozier, and the masterful pianist
Phineas Newborn. Overall, this forward-looking hard bop set is easily recommended. ~ Scott Yanow