The Path to Delphi

With its esoteric titles ("Icarian Sea," "Hestia's Egress," "Serpents of Hera," et al.), one would think that trombonist David Gibson's recording was a suite that could possibly be the soundtrack for a Greek mythology film. Actually the nine songs, despite the forbidding titles, are primarily hard bop. Gibson's style is a little reminiscent of a slightly more modern Curtis Fuller, trumpeter Randy Brecker is always a strong asset in this type of setting, and Wayne Escoffery's soprano adds a great deal to the ensembles. The rhythm section keeps the music swinging and the ballads properly brooding. So despite the names of the songs, this is the type of set that can easily be enjoyed by fans of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, even if the music is not an exact copy.