Study in Brown
When these nine sides were cut in February 1955, trumpeter Clifford Brown was not even 25 years old, but he'd already emerged as jazz's greatest trumpeter this side ofMiles Davis. Whereas Davis made his mark through conception, composition, and cool tones, Brown was a blowing, blaring, blistering fire who navigated chord changes without a second's pause. This record will give listeners plenty of chance to marvel at his fleet improvisations and sharp tone, which remarkably never lost its fullness at any speed. The m.o. of the quintet was pretty well set at this point: reinvigorated standards augmented by crafty introductions and taken at full bore; sprite originals with complex melodies; and an urgency unmatched in jazz before or since. Pianist Richie Powell and tenorHarold Landadmirably keep pace with the leaders.--Marc Greilsamer