Two of trumpeter
Art Farmer's earlier sessions as a leader are reissued on this CD in the OJC series.
Farmer teams up with an all-star quintet (which includes tenor-saxophonist
Sonny Rollins, pianist
Horace Silver, bassist
Percy Heath and drummer
Kenny Clarke) for four songs and dominates a quartet (with pianist
Wynton Kelly, bassist
Addison Farmer and drummer
Herbie Lovelle) on six other tunes.
Farmer's sound is lyrical even on the uptempo pieces and he is heard throughout in his early prime. Highlights include "Soft Shoe," "I'll Take Romance," "Autumn Nocturne" and an uptempo "Gone with the Wind." One should note that the programming differs from what is listed, with "Soft Shoe" (which should have been the opener) actually appearing fifth and the songs listed as appearing second through fifth moving up to first through fourth. Despite that flaw, the music is quite enjoyable and a must for 1950s bop collectors. ~ Scott Yanow