by Scott Yanow
Two separate dates are combined on this Blue Note album. Trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Duke Pearson and drummer Lex Humphries are heard in both quintets with either tenorman Hank Mobley or altoist Jackie McLean and Doug Watkins or Reggie Workman on bass. The consistently strong originals by Pearson and Byrd (&Little Boy Blue& is the lone standard) give this set its own personality and purpose. An excellent example of early '60s hard bop.