Wynton Marsalis Standard Time Vol.1

The first to be recorded in what is now a long series of Standard Time albums shows the trumpeter at a most interesting stage of his development. Back in 1986, his remarkable quartet of pianist Marcus Roberts, bassist Robert Hurst and drummer Jeff "Tain" Watts were still entranced by the rhythmic twists and turns introduced by Miles Davis's group of 20 years earlier, just as the leader's trumpet work was heavily marked by Miles's personal language of the same period. On the way to becoming more individual and more mannered, Marsalis also takes in other influences--there is a touch of Mingus in the rather complex arrangement of "April In Paris" and even some New Orleans funk (hardly associated with Wynton today!) on "Caravan". The emphasis on the standard song repertoire, plus a blues and an original slow ballad in waltz-time, makes it easy to follow the leader's highly melodious variations and the rhythm section's exciting gambits. This is one of the jazz albums from the 1980s, and one from Marsalis's own vast output, that deserves to survive. --Brian Priestley

Label: Unknown
Studio: Sony Jazz
Released: 2001-08-27
Format: Audio CD