CEDAR WALTON
The Maestro
32 Jazz
32197

I enjoy the near-dozen Walton discs on my shelf, and this reissue (of his self-produced Muse 6008 with added tracks from As Long As There’s Music, Muse 5405) will join them, but filed under Lincoln, who appears on four tracks. An excellent mainstream pianist with excellent mainstream partners such as Billy Higgins, David Williams and Terence Blanchard, here Bob Berg’s sax brings the value down a notch by painting-by-number, especially on “Rhythm-a-ning,” although he redeems himself on Lincoln’s “Castles.” Her other tracks are another original, “Not In Love,” Duke’s “In A Sentimental Mood,” and Walton’s endearing title elegy to Duke: “A Sacred Concert in the sky/ Rehearsal is at seven.” Sadly, the rest is dispensable. 32Jazz: Please put reissue info on the back covers too. 1-800-771-9553.

Steve Koenig

Track Listing: 1. Maestro; 2. Rhythm-A-Ning; 3. Not in Love; 4. Sabia; 5. In a Sentimental Mood; 6. Blue Monk; 7. Castles; 8. On the Trail

Personnel: Bob Berg, tenor saxophone; Billy Higgins, drums; Cedar Walton, piano; Abbey Lincoln, vocals; David Williams, bass