Harold Vick led relatively few record dates of his own, but this little-known session is one of his better efforts. Known primarily for his work as a tenor saxophonist,
Vick also plays soprano sax and flute on this mid-'60s RCA Victor album. Most of the disc is devoted to British tenor saxophonist
Kenny Graham's eight-part "Caribbean Suite," which consists of musical impressions of various islands in the West Indies. Joining
Vick are trumpeter
Blue Mitchell, vibraphonist
Bobby Hutcherson, pianist
Albert Dailey, guitarist
Everett Barksdale, bassist
Walter Booker, and drummer
Mickey Roker, along with Latin percussion by
Montego Joe and
Manuel Ramos. Like other boppers who delved into Afro-Cuban music,
Vick's arrangements of this obscure suite work very well. He also adds a fine take of
Charlie Parker's "Barbados" and his own "Letitia," both of which fit in rather nicely with the album concept. Long out of print, this LP may be difficult to acquire. ~ Ken Dryden