AMG Review of Mark Turner

Ken Dryden
All Music Guide

The young tenor saxophonist's second effort as a leader is impressive, particularly because he had the guts to invite earlier tenor sax wunderkind Joshua Redman to join him on three tracks. Mark Turner's "Mr. Brown" is a pulsating blues vehicle for the two inspired reedsmen. Lennie Tristano's slippery bop anthem "327 East 22nd Street" is also an excellent showcase for their talent. The only dud is Ornette Coleman's ponderous, dissonant and overlong "Kathelin Gray," which bogs down in a hurry and almost grinds the session to a halt in spite of the best efforts of Turner and Redman. Fortunately, the magic reappears in the quartet selections, starting with the fast-paced bop of "Hey It's Me You're Talking To." Turner proves himself as a ballad master with his slow caressing of the classic "Autumn in New York." The strong rhythm section of pianist Edward Simon, bassist Christopher Thompson and drummer Brian Blade provides all that a newcomer could ask for during his first date leading a group.