Altoist
Bobby Watson's debut for the Blue Note label used his future group name
Horizon but was actually more of a transition band recorded right before
Horizon's personnel became stabilized. Most notable is the fact that
Watson utilizes two up-and-coming players (trumpeter
Roy Hargrove at the beginning of his career and trombonist
Frank Lacy) in addition to a top-notch rhythm section comprised of pianist
John Hicks, bassist
Curtis Lundy and either
Kenny Washington or
Victor Lewis on drums. Their reportoire on this disc is quite fresh (five of
Watson's challenging originals, Pamela Watson's "And Then Again" and
Billy Strayhorn's "Blood Count") and the advanced hard bop solos are full of spirit and unpredictable ideas. ~ Scott Yanow