As the CD title implies, these sessions featuring trumpeter
Red Rodney were taped in 1957, and listening to them is like discovering a long lost treasure. On the first date, his supporting cast includes tenor saxophonist
Ira Sullivan, pianist
Tommy Flanagan, bassist
Oscar Pettiford, and drummer
Philly Joe Jones. Neither
Rodney nor
Sullivan run out of ideas within their extended solos during "Star Eyes." A soft very effective treatment of the ballad "You Better Go Now" is next, followed by "Stella by Starlight" at a crisp medium tempo. The second session was recorded just two days later, with
Elvin Jones taking over the drums.
Sullivan switches to trumpet to join the leader (
Sullivan played trumpet prior to teaching himself tenor sax) on "Red Arrow," a high energy bop original by
Rodney that repeatedly incorporates licks from "Turkey in the Straw."
Pettiford's tasty bass is more prominent in
Rodney's snappy "Box 2000." The bassist contributed the Latin-flavored "Ubas," which was dedicated to conga player Sabu Martinez (who is not present on this recording); without its Latin rhythm, the piece would sound more like an up-tempo spiritual. This somewhat obscure CD is well worth acquiring.