Round Trip

Personnel: Bobby Watson (alto saxophone); Piero Bassini (piano); Giampiero Prina (drums).
Recording information: Barigozzi Studio, Milan, Italy (02/06/1985).
Recorded the day after Appointment in Milano and with the same Italian trio (pianist Piero Bassini, bassist Attilio Zanchi and drummer Giampiero Prina), this quartet set by altoist Bobby Watson has plenty of variety. Watson performs an explorative version of Ornette Coleman's "Round Trip," a pair of sophisticated ballads ("Blue in Green" and the jazz waltz "Sweet Dreams"), fresh versions of two standards ("There Is No Greater Love" and a faster-than-usual rendition of Lee Morgan's "Ceora") and an original ("All the Things of Jo Maka") that is based on "All the Things You Are." Watson's music swings yet he was adapting elements of avant-garde innovations to his style; the results are quite stimulating. ~ Scott Yanow