AMG Review of Take a Number from 1 to 10

Jason Ankeny
All Music Guide

A gimmick record that transcends its novelty trappings, Take a Number from 1 to 10 begins with Benny Golson's solo rendition of the evergreen "You're My Thrill" and from there adds a new musician (among them Freddie Hubbard, Cedar Walton, and Curtis Fuller) with each successive track, climaxing with the full ten-piece group's rendition of the Golson original "Time." While the progressive sonic expansion is fascinating to behold, the small-group settings are no less impressive for their intimacy and nuance. In fact, a gorgeous duet rendition of "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" pairing Golson with bassist Tommy Williams may be the most impressive performance here.