At the time he recorded this set, altoist
Kenny Garrett was 24, had played with
Mercer Ellington's big band, and was freelancing in New York. (His association with
Miles Davis would not begin for a few more years.) A measure of the strong reputation
Garrett already had is that his sidemen include trumpeter
Woody Shaw and pianist
Mulgrew Miller; bassist
Nat Reeves and drummer
Tony Reedus complete the quintet. The group performs five of the altoist's hard bop originals,
Miller's "Blues In the Afternoon," and a couple of standards. A strong start to what would be a significant career. ~ Scott Yanow