Wynton Marsalis, very much in his Miles Davis period, plays quite melodically throughout this ballad-dominated outing with strings.
Branford Marsalis (on tenor and soprano), flutist Kent Jordan, pianist Kenny Kirkland, bassist Ron Carter, and drummer Jeff Watts are strong assets but it is Wynton's subtle creativity on such songs as "Stardust," "When You Wish Upon a Star," Duke Ellington's "Melancholia," and "I'm Confessin'" that makes this recording special.
The arrangements by Robert Freedman generally keep the strings from sounding too sticky and Wynton's tone is consistently beautiful.
PERSONNEL:
WYNTON MARSALIS, trumpet
BRANDFORD MARSALIS, soprano sax on track 1 & tenor sax on track 2
KENT JORDAN, alto flute on track 3
KENNY KIRKLAND, piano
RON CARTER, bass
JEFFREY WATTS, drums
New York, May 30 & 31, 1984
Originally Columbia
TRACKLIST:
1 Stardust
2 Lazy Afternoon
3 For All We Know
4 When You Wish Upon a Star
5 Django
6 Melancholia
7 Hot House Flowers
8 I'm Confessin' (That I Love You)