Four previously unreleased performances are included on this diverse and mostly swing-oriented CD.
Marcus Belgrave is better known for playing in more modern settings and for being an important educator in Detroit. However, this CD is something different. Two of the sessions (from 1987 and 1989) resulted in five duets (mostly ballads) with veteran trad pianist
Art Hodes, including two versions apiece (but two years apart) of "Ghost of a Chance" and "Summertime." A 1995 performance teams
Belgrave with fellow trumpeter
Doc Cheatham in a quintet that also features stride pianist
James Dapogny. The three numbers include "Honeysuckle Rose" and "Sweet Georgia Brown." In addition,
Belgrave plays "On the Sunny Side of the Street" and "Broadway" with his regular quintet in 2000, which includes tenor saxophonist
Charlie Gabriel and pianist
Claude Black.
Belgrave, a flexible player, is in excellent form throughout this program, and it is enjoyable to hear these previously unknown performances by
Hodes and
Cheatham.