Phineas Newborn's Contemporary debut (he would record six albums over a 15-year period for the label) was made just before physical problems began to interrupt his career. This CD reissue has two trio sessions, and finds
Newborn joined by either bassist
Paul Chambers and drummer
Philly Joe Jones or bassist
Sam Jones and drummer
Louis Hayes. Actually, the accompaniment is not that significant, for the virtuosic
Newborn is essentially the whole show anyway. He performs five jazz standards and three obscurities by jazz composers on this superb recital; highlights include "Cheryl," "Manteca," "Daahoud," and "Oleo." ~ Scott Yanow