Court Jester

Personnel: Greg Gisbert (trumpet, flugelhorn); Jon Gordon (soprano & alto saxophones); Tim Ries (soprano & tenor saxophones, flute); Conrad Herwig (trombone); Janice Friedman (piano); Jay Anderson (bass); Gregory Hutchinson (drums).
Recorded in New York, New York on December 27, 1996.
Recording information: RPM Studio, New York, NY (12/27/1996).
Trumpeter Greg Gisbert leads an impressive septet through a set of challenging material on this program. His playing is excellent as are his two originals, which are performed along with a pair from pianist Janice Friedman (including the witty "The Love Dirge"), Maria Schneider's "Waltz for Toots," and three jazz standards. The music is post-bop jazz that occasionally sounds a bit (during the ensembles) like Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and sometimes looks back toward classic bebop. The solos are mostly quite advanced, with each of the horn players having their spots (tenor saxophonist Tim Ries is particularly impressive). The versatile Greg Gisbert, who is sometimes quite fiery, deserves to be much better known. ~ Scott Yanow