Kenny Barron Quintet Live at Fat Tuesdays

excellent

If you get this CD and "Quickstep"(see my review) you may agree with me that this is the best regularly playing jazz group of 1988-91. The only possible equals I can think of playing straight ahead jazz in this period would have been the Louis Hayes or McCoy Tyner groups. Kenny Barron's trio recordings are among my favorites, and these quintet recordings are too. This 1988 live recording has John Stubblefield on tenor, Dr. Eddie Henderson on trumpet and the great Cecil McBee on bass and Victor Lewis on drums. These veterans play with a passion and pleasure that can't be beat. They had the advantage of playing together for a few years, and we are the beneficiaries of their cohesion.