Marcus Roberts' debut as a leader is a strong all-around effort featuring the 24-year-old pianist with an all-star group consisting of trumpeter
Wynton Marsalis, bassist
Reginald Veal, drummer
Elvin Jones and either
Charlie Rouse (in his last studio session) or
Todd Williams on tenor.
Roberts (who takes "Blue Monk" as an unaccompanied solo) already shows some individuality, along with the influence of
James P. Johnson,
Duke Ellington and
Thelonious Monk. The music is essentially advanced hard bop, with five
Roberts originals (including "The Truth Is Spoken Here" and "Nothin' But the Blues"), two
Ellington tunes and "Blue Monk" being performed in spirited fashion. Recommended.