Sonny Grey, a Jamaican-born trumpeter, is like Joe Harriott and Dizzy Reece who were great on the instrument but never received top billing. Grey spent time in Europe with the Kenny Clarke/Francy Boland Big band, but he decided to go it alone for these big bands between 1967 and 1968. Although the big bands may not include everyone you might know, the charts by Herb Geller are impressive. Grey was a big listener. A take of “Work Song” sounds great and an arrangement by Charles Mingus of “Nostalgia In Time Square”, sparks excitement. There are some fun little ditties like Neal Hefti’s “Cute” or Bud Powell’s “Budo”, but Grey pulls the plug, and the band goes wild on a ten-minute gallop on “Tenor Madness,” with some wild sax playing. Grey’s “Antony”, Grey’s own horn, shows muscle, and Grey’s horn is Buck Clayton rich. This guy is a great choice for big band fans who want swing with style. From www.jazzweekly.com
