Trumpeter
Wynton Marsalis's debut on Columbia, recorded when he was only 19, made it clear from the start that he was going to be a major force in jazz. At the time
Marsalis (who was originally a bit influenced by
Freddie Hubbard) was starting to closely emulate
Miles Davis of the mid-'60s and his slightly older brother
Branford took
Wayne Shorter as his role model. The inclusion of
Davis's rhythm section from that era (pianist
Herbie Hancock, bassist
Ron Carter and drummer
Tony Williams) on four of the seven selections reinforced the image. The three other numbers feature such up-and-coming talents as pianist
Kenny Kirkland,
Charles Fambrough or
Clarence Seay on bass and drummer
Jeff "Tain" Watts, helping to launch the rise of the Young Lions. But although not overly original, there is a great deal of outstanding playing on this set, including a definitive version of
Tony Williams's "Sister Cheryl" and the long tradeoff between
Wynton and
Branford on "Hesitation." ~ Scott Yanow