The Bopera House
, an outgrowth of
the Metropolitan Bopera House
, on this 1988 CD features trumpeter
John Marshall
, tenor-saxophonist
Ralph Lalama
, pianist
Tardo Hammer
, bassist
John Webber
and drummer
Tom Melito
. The music is essentially hard bop, whether it be one of
Marshall's
four originals,
Webber's
"So Young"
or the six jazz standards (which include
Fats Navarro's
"Wailing Wall,"
Duke Pearson's
"Is That So" and
Charlie Parker's
"Sippin' at Bells"). Although no one on this CD (except perhaps
) is close to being a household name, they are all talented players who are skilled improvisers within the hard bop tradition. So, despite the lack of name recognition, this CD is easily recommended to straightahead jazz fans. ~ Scott Yanow