Art Farmer has long been one of the most consistent of all brassmen. Playing the flumpet (which is a cross between a trumpet and a flugelhorn),
Farmer is heard throughout this 1996 set in top form. He utilizes two complementary young tenor saxophonists (
Ron Blake and
Don Braden), a skilled pianist-arranger (
Geoff Keezer), bassist Kenny Davis, and drummer
Carl Allen. The repertoire consists of an original apiece by
Farmer,
Braden, and Davis, two by
Keezer,
Ray Bryant's memorable "Tonk,"
Duke Ellington's "I Let a Song Go out of My Heart," and a slightly altered rendition of "Stardust." While his sidemen play quite well, the warm-toned and swinging
Farmer is consistently the main star, and at age 68 he proves to still be in his prime. ~ Scott Yanow