During its four albums, Out of the Blue was the perfect representative of the Young Lions, featuring
Art Blakey-type hard bop by up-and-coming players. Not an innovative group by any means, O.T.B. did give the musicians an opportunity to be showcased in the early stages of their career. For this live concert, two
Bud Powell songs ("Parisian Thoroughfare" and "Blue Pearl") are performed by pianist
Harry Pickens (in fine form), bassist
Kenny Davis (a recent replacement for
Bob Hurst) and drummer Ralph Peterson (who would soon be heading his own band). The second half of the program has three group originals, all previously recorded but here stretched out a bit, performed by the same rhythm section plus trumpeter
Michael Mossman, altoist
Kenny Garrett and
Ralph Bowen on tenor. Fine straight-ahead music. ~ Scott Yanow