Brandford currently fills the vital Harry Carney chair in the
Mercer Ellington Band; his septet's 1991 recording featured young vets with the
technique to play a lot of notes but the taste to pick the right ones. An
excellent recording from an important late eighties Boston band: melodic,
swinging, tasteful, alive.
"Mixes big-band elegance with Jazz Messengers horn
shouts...Those who don't already know about the Boston-originated group are in
for a treat."
-Dale Smoak, Boston Phoenix
"Superlative and swinging. These guys are as good as
most major label small groups."
-James Isaccs, WBUR, Boston
Personnel: Andy Gravish, tp; Hal Crook, tb; Kenny Wenzel, tb
(3,4); Jay Brandford, as, fl;
Dave Finucane, ts; Dan Trudell, pn; Ron McWhorter, bs; Matt
Keeler, dms.
Tracks: 1.Drop Me Off in Brooklyn; 2.Blues Down in Red Hook;
3.Chezmo;
4.Crepuscule with Nellie; 5.Half Moon; 6. States of Mind;
7.Violet Blue;
8.Your Move; 9.Constellation.
