Pickens has been getting attention for some time now through his work with Johnny Griffin and deservedly. He has a bright sound that combines a ring and a throb, his left hand figures tend to become rhythmic counterpoint on their own, the percussive strength of the piano in jazz hasn't gone past him, and he phrases with as much intelligence as intensity. In all, the kind of rhythm section that inspires. Listening to the horns orchestrate their ideas within the environment provided by the rhythm section is well worth the listening time. Garrett, Bowen, and Mossman are musicians who neither place their lines on top of the rhythm section like postage stamps, nor do they ignore the full identity of a given piece when they improvise.
Nothing is left behind.
Also, like Monk, each man listens closely to what was improvised before his own feature and uses that material to make for a continuity that doesn't intrude upon individuality. Since all of these horn men are in their twenties and the rhythm section is equally young, we have to assume that we can expect a great deal from them over the years. Already, they have proven that though the name of the band is Out of the Blue, they didn't just pop up out of nowhere. They know from whence they come, and that knowing will undoubtedly help them enrich the music.