Guy Barker is a virtuosic trumpeter whose modern bop solos at times hint at both
Wynton Marsalis and
Kenny Wheeler. On this Spotlite CD
Barker and his sidemen have plenty of chanaces to stretch out on challenging tunes ranging from
Dave Liebman's uptempo "Day and Night" and some group originals to the standards "I Get Along Without You Very Well" and "All or Nothing at All." A highlight is a version of
Bix Beiderbecke's "In a Mist" that is taken as an emotional duet by
Barker and bassist
Alec Dankworth. Joined on most of the other selections by a strong rhythm section that includes pianist
Julian Joseph and occasionally one of three saxophonists,
Guy Barker (whose highly appealing tone and unpredictable solos keep the music consistently stimulating) easily emerges as the main star of this fine disc.