With its unusual brass front line and its all-star rhythm section, Much Brass endures as one of Nat Adderley's best early albums. The brightness and range of Adderley's cornet is offset in the ensembles by the basso profundo of Laymon Jackson's tuba and, in the middle of the sonic range, the richness of Slide Hampton's trombone. The rhythm section was assembled from the working groups of Miles Davis (Wynton Kelly), Thelonious Monk (Sam Jones), and J.J. Johnson (Tootie Heath). They provide accompaniments of which soloists dream, and Kelly in solo demonstrates why he was a model for jazz pianists everywhere. Hampton, relatively early in his career, was already a respected arranger. His charts claim a large share of the credit for the cohesiveness, freshness, and momentum of the music in this collection.
**** -Down Beat.
Nat Adderley (cornet), Slide Hampton (trombone, except #6 and 8); (tuba on #1), Laymon Jackson (tuba; bass on #1), Wynton Kelly (piano), Sam Jones (bass; cello on #1), Albert "Tootie" Heath (drums)
Recorded at Reeves Sound Studios. New York City; March 23 and 27. 1959.
Tracklisting:
1. Blue Concept (7:37)
2. Little Miss (4:28)
3. Israel (3:53)
4. What Next? (3:30)
5. Moving (5:03)
6. Blue Brass Groove (5:39)
7. Accents (5:40)
8. Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child (4:06)
Released 1994.