This is a rather historic recording, for it finds altoist
Benny Waters, the oldest active jazz musician at a month shy of 93, in surprisingly fiery form; his feature on "Blue Waters" is easily the high point. The other members of
the Statesmen of Jazz (a group sponsored by the American Federation of Jazz Societies) are all senior citizens too: violinist
Claude Williams (86), flugelhornist
Clark Terry (74), trumpeter
Joe Wilder (72), trombonist
Al Grey (69), tenor saxoponist
Buddy Tate (79), pianist
Jane Jarvis (79), bassist
Milt Hinton (84), and drummer Panama Francis (76). Although
Tate was a little past his prime and
Wilder a bit erratic due to dental surgery, this is a particularly infectious date of well-played swing.
Waters,
Williams, and
Terry take solo honors. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow