Performing with frequent collaborators
Terell Stafford
,
Cyrus Chestnut
Tarus Mateen
, and (
Clarence Penn
),
Tim Warfield
's debut as a leader is a fine mixture of original compositions, standards, and jazz classics. Although all of the nine selections on
A Cool Blue
are strong, two of the standouts are
"Titi Boom I"
and
"Titi Boom II"
;
"I"
is an uptempo blues, while
"II"
is slower but just as energetic, with a collective improvisation over a four-note bass vamp. Other highlights include a straight-ahead reading of
"I Didn't Know What Time It Was,"
a special arrangement of
"Night Train,"
the beautiful title track, and the hard hitting
"Mr Jin,"
introduced by a powerful
Penn
drum solo. One of the original
Tough Young Tenors
and an original member of the short-lived
Jazz Futures
Warfield
shows the potential to become one of the most distinctive tenor saxophonists in jazz. ~ Greg Turner