Don Braden’s debut as a leader found the 27-year-old already a talented hard bop-based tenor saxophonist. Teamed up with other young all-stars (trumpeter Tom Harrell, pianist Benny Green, bassist Christian McBride, and drummer Carl Allen), Braden performs three originals, a trio of superior standards (including “Softly As in a Morning Sunrise” and “Will You Still Be Mine”), and an obscure Jackie McLean blues (“Condition Blue”), plus an acoustic version of Herbie Hancock’s funky “Butterfly.” The young tenor was on his way to shedding his influences and developing a strong voice of his own, and this largely straight-ahead date is excellent. – Scott Yanow
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