Branford Marsalis - Royal Garden Blues

I think that this I Branford Marsalis' second solo relase, and it continues the early 80's trend that the Marsalis brothers set of following the modern jazz of the 60's (Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, et al).

This CD includes a set of swing tunes, Swinging at the Haven and Royal Garden Blues, which are standard fair though executed well. There is a drum vehicle at the end (featuring drummer, Tain Watts) which is a throwback to Coltrane's "Drum Thing" from Crescent. Gershwin's "Strike up the Band" is given a Hawkins' type treatment in which the melody is barely discernable (after all why waste time on the head when Branford could be burning up a solo"). However, the highlights are the ballads Dienda and Shadows. Marsalis' execution is exceptional with varied textures and dynamics on all of the long notes. The influence of Shorter is clear with Marsalis reminding us of classics such as "Infant Eyes".

If this album had been released in the 60's, we would surely be hearing of the ballads on this album as standards