Bobby Watson credits
Art Blakey with showing him the ropes through the apprentice system, which included recruiting up-and-coming musicians, giving them advice, plus encouraging the younger players to write charts and originals for the band.
Watson's
Live & Learn band is such a format, a successor to his earlier on-again, off-again
Horizon, with one former member back in the fold in bassist
Curtis Lundy. The alto saxophonist has changed the format slightly, expanding his quintet to add vibes, played ably by
Warren Wolf, with pianist
Harold O'Neal, trumpeter
Leron Thomas, and drummer
Quincy Davis all showing promising signs of players who are likely to make lasting impressions on the jazz scene.
Watson contributed six originals, including the hip, tasty riff tune "Wilkes BBQ," the perky "Deep Pockets," and the humorous Latin-flavored post-bop "Aye Caramba."
O'Neal contributed the richly textured ballad "Purple Flowers" and the intricate "Timeless," while
Wolf penned the lush "For Milt" (which is likely for the late vibraphonist
Milt Jackson).
Thomas' "Marcus Vein" provides an intense cooker to wrap this outstanding session.