Both Sides Of The Fence

Trumpeter Thomas Marriott's CD is respectable small group work with a few surprises. Marriott has a soft, quiet sound that excels on slow, introspective pieces like Duke Ellington's "Mew World A Comin'" and glides beautifully on the more uptempo "Summer Night" where Marriott's rhythm section (Marc Seales, Jeff Johnson, and John Bishop) keep a lively conversation going beneath the trumpet.

Another color is introduced when Seales switches to Fender Rhodes piano. On that instrument he has a dark, turbulent duet passage with Bishop on "The Ninnen" and gives dreamy, textured support on "Sky Dive" and "What The Mirror Said," providing an extra edge to Hadley Caliman's leathery tenor cameo. Vibraphonist Joe Locke also makes a couple of guest appearances, lighting up "So Near So Far" and a gorgeous "Tones For Joan's Bones" with his bright playing. Marriott is generous in sharing the spotlight here and that helps make for a quietly absorbing session.