This 1980 recording released for the first time -- "Formidable" from a 1959 session and five numbers from a 1963
McLean set. While "Formidable" has a strong quintet (with altoist
Jackie McLean, trumpeter
Donald Byrd, pianist
Walter Davis, bassist
Paul Chambers, and drummer
Pete La Roca), the 1963 session has the recording debut of drummer
Tony Williams along with strong contributions from
Byrd, pianist
Herbie Hancock (then also near the beginning of his career), and bassist
Butch Warren. The latter unit sticks to group originals by
Byrd,
Hancock, and
McLean, and the music ranges from catchy funk and hard bop to strong hints of the avant-garde. ~ Scott Yanow