Best Bets

Trumpet, bass and drum trios are not all that common. The trumpeter must have strong endurance and enough imagination to keep the set interesting, even when the bassist and drummer are operating as equals. Recording as Trio East on Best Bets, Clay Jenkins shows that he is very much up to the role, coming up with consistently creative ideas without any hesitation. Bassist Jeff Campbell and drummer Rich Thompson are both very active (particularly Campbell) while Jenkins is usually the lead voice. Some of the music is quite melancholy, but there are also some cooking sections and fresh versions of "I Let a Song Go out of My Heart" and "Cry Me a River." The results are full of surprises and some of the best recorded solos of Clay Jenkins' career thus far.