Little Red's Fantasy
If Woody Shaw had been a 1970s politician rather than one of the decade's most respected trumpeters, he'd have been an ally of that inveterate New Dealer Hubert Humphrey. Indeed, the New York-based jazzman (who died in 1989 at the age of 44 after he was hit by a train) made no apologies for occupying the center-left of the jazz spectrum. Neither a fire-breathing avant-gardist nor a hidebound traditionalist, Shaw played, in his own words, "good modal bop"--thoughLittle Red's Fantasyqualifies as better than merely "good"; this 1976 collection is considered one of the prolific player's superior efforts. Three original compositions from the session leader and one each from pianistRonnie Mathewsand bassist Stafford James make up the repertoire. Shaw's confident, fervent playing is complemented throughout by veteran alto man Frank Strozier, whose playing the trumpeter first encountered as a teen. Drummer Eddie Moore rounds up the unfortunately short-lived quintet.Little Red's Fantasydemonstrates that mighty striking jazz comes from some just-off-center angles.--Steven Stolder