Byron Stripling is a confident trumpeter who is unafraid of being compared to earlier greats on his instrument; he delves into time-tested standards of the swing era as well as the music of
Dizzy Gillespie, yet produces a fresh approach in every case. With pianist
Bill Charlap, drummer
Dennis Mackrel, either
Peter Washington or
Ira Coleman on bass, trombonist
Wycliffe Gordon, and tenor saxophonist
Frank Wess joining him,
Stripling's lively playing is a delight throughout the sessions. His spirited interplay with
Gordon on the strutting opener, "(Back Home Again In) Indiana," and a bluesy exchange of solos with
Wess in "Lover Man" are both gems. Fellow trumpeter
Michael P. Mossman arranged both
Gillespie's "Con Alma" and "Woody 'n You," and
Stripling makes the most of his good friend's imaginative charts. The trumpeter also contributes two potent originals, the
Basie-like swinger "Frank's Magic" (with a wide-ranging solo by
Wess) and the low-key "Byron, Get One Free," which focuses on his tasty muted horn. Highly recommended. ~ Ken Dryden