Like the other Savoy recordings of
Curtis Fuller, The Curtis Fuller Jazztet is a relaxed hard bop set featuring many of the young stars of the day. The more famous
Blues-ette, from earlier in 1959, featured
Tommy Flanagan,
Jimmy Garrison, and
Al Harewood. This time, however, the
Fuller/
Golson combination included
Lee Morgan,
Wynton Kelly,
Paul Chambers, and the percussive talents of drummer
Charlie Persip. Listeners already acquainted with
Blues-ette (or other comparable dates) should find this session to be familiar territory. Similarly, it is also very much in the same vein as another classic,
Meet the Jazztet, upon which
Fuller and
Golson were again paired. Even though the compositions may not be as strong as those on
Blues-ette (and how could they be?), there are a number of highly engaging solos by all and perhaps a bit more diversity with regard to both tempo and arrangement. Where
Blues-ette's sublime grace stems from the collective understanding displayed by the group, the greatness of The Curtis Fuller Jazztet is to be found in the individual talents of the soloists. Of particular note are
Golson's flights on up-tempo numbers such as the album's opener, "It's Alright With Me," and absolutely every soloist's take on the ballad "I'll Walk Alone." Let this highly recommended set also be a testament to the sparkling,
Roy Haynes-like "snap-crackle" style of the underappreciated
Charlie Persip.