Wycliffe Gordon (trombone, vocals), Victor Goines (tenor sax, clarinet), Randy Sandke (trumpet), Eric Reed (piano), Rodney Whitacker (bass), Herlin Riley (drums), Milt Grayson (vocals) and many others.
12 Tracks (incl. 6 previously unreleased tracks).
Recorded 1998 – 2001 in New York City. Compiled by Hans Nagel-Heyer.
Wycliffe Gordon, as usual, is amazing, expressing joy, amiable personality and sophistication in his playing. Here he proves once again that he is one of the most talented players in jazz. But even though he enjoys playing modern jazz he always keeps an eye on the tradition.
This album presents a compilation of standards only recorded during his sessions for Nagel Heyer. Some of the tracks never made it on the final CD as Wycliffe’s previous releases.
Slidin’ Home, The Search, WE or The Joyride are often filled with originals. Nevertheless the standards are deserving some wider recognition as well. It is really impressing what Wycliffe Gordon gets out of songs that are recorded hundreds of times before.
Wycliffe Gordon has had an extraordinary career as a performer, conductor, composer, arranger and educator, receiving high praise from audiences and critics alike. He tours the world performing hard swinging, straight ahead jazz for audiences ranging from heads of state to elementary school students. His trombone playing mixes powerful, intricate runs with sweet notes extended over clean melodies, and has been hailed by The New York Times as “masterful”. Gordon received the Jazz Journalist Association 2000 Critics' Choice Award for Best Trombone.
“Wycliffe Gordon moved past respect and put some muscle and bawdy humor into his trombone parts.” (Fernando Gonzalez, The Herald)
“Trombone player Wycliffe Gordon deserves mention for his energy, exuberance, and musical excellence as well. All the musicians deserve praise.” (St. Louis Post )
“…one of the best trombonists and writers in jazz.” (Star-Gazette)