Drummer
Tony Williams' first recording as a leader (made when he was 18 and still billed as
Anthony Williams) gave him an opportunity to utilize an advanced group of musicians: tenor saxophonist
Sam Rivers, vibraphonist
Bobby Hutcherson, pianist
Herbie Hancock, and both
Richard Davis and
Gary Peacock on bass.
Williams wrote all four of the pieces and has a different combination of players on each song. The freely improvised "Memory" features
Hutcherson,
Hancock, and
Williams in some colorful and at times spacy interplay; "Barb's Song to the Wizard" is a
Hancock-
Ron Carter duet; "Tomorrow Afternoon" has
Rivers,
Peacock and
Williams in a trio; and all of the musicians (except
Hutcherson) are on the sidelong "2 Pieces of One." The unpredictable music holds one's interest; a very strong debut for the masterful drummer. ~ Scott Yanow