Clockwise: The Music of Cedar Walton

Terell Stafford is a featured soloist on the Ben Markley Big Band's Clockwise: The Music of Cedar Walton. The leader's creative charts show how much Walton's music belongs in a big band's repertoire. In the swinging "Cedar's Blues", Stafford takes his time building momentum in his solo, giving a virtual master class, followed by Will Swindler's whimsical alto. The breezy afrocuban piece "Fiesta Espanol" works even better with a big band, with stimulating solos by the leader on piano, trombonist Paul McKee and trumpteter Greg Gisbert, who rivals Stafford for solo honors among the section members. "Bolivia" is Walton's most widely known composition and Markley's section writing is a nice compliement. "Black" is a fitting conclusion, with exciting playing by Stafford and Gisbert, tenor saxophonist Peter Sommer delivering an explosive improvisation as a segue between them.