Trombonist
Julian Priester sounds very much under the influence of
J.J. Johnson during his debut as a leader, a Riverside date reissued on CD in the Original Jazz Classics series. The repertoire is comprised of four
Priester originals, one apiece by
Jimmy Heath (whose tenor makes the group a quintet on five of the eight songs) and baritonist
Charles Davis, and two standards.
Priester is heard in his early prime on a warm version of "Once in a While" and plays solid hard bop with pianist
Tommy Flanagan, bassist
Sam Jones, drummer
Elvin Jones, and sometimes
Heath on this swinging, modern, mainstream session. ~ Scott Yanow