Caravan

By the time that icon/bandleader/percussionist and his began recording for in the fall of 1962, had already been the spiritual center of the group for nearly 15 years. The unprecedented caliber of performers who had already passed through the revolving-door personnel reads like a who's who of 20th century . On -- his first of several notable sides for the venerable label -- he is joined by a quintet of concurrent and future all-stars. Likewise, it could be argued that each has never again been presented in such a fresh or inspired setting as on these recordings. In order to establish with any authority just how heavy (even for purveyors of ) the players in this band are, they need only to be named: (trombone), (trumpet), (tenor sax), (piano), and (bass). With (drums) firmly at the helm, these deliver a scintillating synergy that doesn't sacrifice intensity for the sake of cadence. The trademark give-and-take that graces the laid-back and sophisticated and likewise is responsible for the palpable energy brought to the sizeable contributions from -- which make up half of the album's material. The title and leadoff track liquefies 's original arrangement and ignites it, fueling this extended fiery interpretation. 's first solo harks back to his own recording of which can be heard on the release and was recorded earlier the same year. Coincidentally, that disc also features as well as a rare non- -related appearance from (tenor sax). Blow for blow, however, this reading has more than just an edge -- it possesses the entire blade. The melody snakes in and out of 's strident flurry of syncopation. Another highlight is 's interjectory solo, recalling his ability to succeed in ' coterie. Among the original compositions, 's upbeat stands out as the most cohesive and ensemble-driven, although the singular group dynamic is well applied to the lively as well. By contrast, 's is more angular -- taking full advantage of the musicians' aggressive chops. This release can be considered definitive , , and . ~ Lindsay Planer