One of the top hard bop contingents of the '50s and '60s, the
Art Farmer and
Benny Golson co-led group known as
the Jazztet featured some of the best original charts and soloing of the entire era. While the group was only in existence between 1959-1962, its excellent reputation could rest on this stunning disc alone. Cut in 1960, the ten-track date features four of
Golson's classic originals ("I Remember Clifford," "Blues March," "Park Avenue Petite," and "Killer Joe") and one very fetching
Farmer-penned cut ("Mox Nix"). The rest of the standards-heavy mix is given the golden touch by the sextet. And what a combo this is -- besides
Farmer's svelte trumpet lines and
Golson's frenetically vaporous tenor solos, one gets a chance to hear a young but already very accomplished
McCoy Tyner, the tart and mercurial trombonist
Curtis Fuller, and the streamlined rhythm tandem of
Addison Farmer and
Lex Humphries. An essential hard bop title. ~ Stephen Cook