Don Sickler became one of the most in-demand jazz arrangers during the 1980s, and these 1990 studio sessions gave him an opportunity to record under his own name. Assembling a first-rate band mixing veterans and younger musicians,
Sickler put together a program consisting of overlooked gems written by
Kenny Dorham,
Walter Davis, Jr.,
Elmo Hope, and even
Charles Mingus.
Dorham's "Hill's Edge" (a brisk reworking of "Tune Up") showcases trombonist
Carl Fontana, alto saxophonist
Bobby Porcelli (
Sickler's bandmate in drummer
T.S. Monk's group), tenor saxophonist
Ralph Moore, and the leader.
Sickler's background scoring for the horns and reeds in
Davis' "On the Real Side" and
Hope's moody "Barfly" reveals the potential of these important but unjustly obscure works.
Mingus' "Scenes in the City" originally contained narration, but the arranger converted a phrase from the piece into a motif utilized throughout this multifaceted portrait of a metropolis. The band also includes baritone saxophonist
Gary Smulyan, pianist
Richard Wyands, bassist
Peter Washington, and drummer
Kenny Washington. Given the outstanding quality of this project, label owners ought to give free rein to
Don Sickler for similar recordings in the future. ~ Ken Dryden