Title: playing catch up
Product review: On this outing at least, Freddie Redd is in over his head. Jackie McLean and Tina Brooks contribute blistering solos, but Redd's block chords struggle to keep pace. His solos barely qualify as solos.If the pianist had been better matched to the two sax frontmen, this would have been a classic 60's hard bop recording meriting 5 + Stars. As it is, it still gets 4 1/2.Anything with Tina Brooks on it is worth having. Unlike some jazz musicians who recorded a few sides and disappeared, Tina Brooks was a major talent. His tone and technique were flawless, his concept of soloing complete. With the right management he could have been a star on the level with any marquee tenor sax player of his day. It didn't happen. Lacking Coltrane's determination, Tina Brooks succumbed to the lifestyle rather than impose his personality upon it. It was a great loss.
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