A gimmick record that transcends its novelty trappings,
Take a Number from 1 to 10 begins with
Benny Golson's solo rendition of the evergreen "You're My Thrill" and from there adds a new musician (among them
Freddie Hubbard,
Cedar Walton, and
Curtis Fuller) with each successive track, climaxing with the full ten-piece group's rendition of the
Golson original "Time." While the progressive sonic expansion is fascinating to behold, the small-group settings are no less impressive for their intimacy and nuance. In fact, a gorgeous duet rendition of "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" pairing
Golson with bassist Tommy Williams may be the most impressive performance here. ~ Jason Ankeny