Trumpeter
Wynton Marsalis
's debut on
Columbia
, recorded when he was only 19, made it clear from the start that he was going to be a major force in jazz. At the time
Marsalis
(who was originally a bit influenced by
Freddie Hubbard
) was starting to closely emulate
Miles Davis
of the mid-'60s and his slightly older brother
Branford
took
Wayne Shorter
as his role model. The inclusion of
Davis
's rhythm section from that era (pianist
Herbie Hancock
, bassist
Ron Carter
and drummer
Tony Williams
) on four of the seven selections reinforced the image. The three other numbers feature such up-and-coming talents as pianist
Kenny Kirkland
,
Charles Fambrough
or
Clarence Seay
on bass and drummer
Jeff "Tain" Watts
, helping to launch the rise of the Young Lions. But although not overly original, there is a great deal of outstanding playing on this set, including a definitive version of
's
"Sister Cheryl"
and the long tradeoff between
Wynton
and
on
"Hesitation."
~ Scott Yanow