Julius Tolentino shows a lot of promise on his debut recording as a leader. He studied with fellow alto saxophonist
Jackie McLean and toured for several years with the Illinois Jacquet Big Band, though he has developed a sound that is not overly influenced by anyone else on his instrument. With a fine rhythm section, including pianist
Jeb Patton (of
the Heath Brothers), bassist
Vicente Archer, and either
Willie Jones III or Pete Van Nostrand on drums,
Tolentino's take of
Billy Eckstine's tantalizing ballad "I Want to Talk About You" reveals his debt to
McLean. But he engages in a wild free improvisation upon his teacher's "Quadrangle," with trumpeter
Jeremy Pelt also getting a lion's share of the solo space. Trombonist
Steve Davis penned the brooding "High Drama." The leader himself is a budding composer, including the lush ballad tribute "Letter to Illinois," a lush duet with
Patton that is a fitting memorial to a great musician. ~ Ken Dryden