"5 of 8 (- #1,3,6) The first album from the Allison-led group Medicine Wheel, this is a wonderfully varied and exploratory album. Featuring JCC cohorts Frank Kimbrough (p), Ted Nash (ts), Michael Blake (ts), Ron Horton (t), Jeff Ballard (d), and Tomas Ulrich (cello).
"2 (#6,8 - join "Medicine Wheel") - to test on Palmetto. Allison produces some exciting work with this "other" band, Peace Pipe. Alongside his Medicine Wheel collaborators Frank Kimbrough (p), Michael Blake (ts, ss, bc), and Michael Sarin (d), Allison brings aboard Peter Apfelbaum (ts) and Mamadou Diabate's kora, for a cool eastern feel.
"6 of 7 (- #4) Allison is joined here on his debut album by fellow JCC luminaries Ted Nash (tenor sax) and Frank Kimbrough (piano), and Ron Horton (trumpet) among others
"9 of 10 ? Horton's distinctive trumpet and flugelhorn can be heard on several albums on this list, but this set proves he's a fine original composer, too. Witty and intense. With Ben Allison (b), Frank Kimbrough (p), Jane Ira Bloom (ss), John McKenna (ts), and Rich Rosenzweig (d)
"8 Nash is a surprising composer and a compelling player. There's a terrific "sound" on this album that sets it apart. Featuring Ben Allison (b), Frank Kimbrough (p), Matt Wilson (d), and Marcus Printup (t). Oh, yeah - and some guy named Wynton Marsalis (t) on half the tracks.
"10 ? Probably the most famous JCC product (ironic, since it has no original compositions), this labor-of-love band arrangement of Herbie Nichols tunes is indispensible. Ben Allison, Frank Kimbrough, Michael Blake, Ted Nash, Ron Horton, Wycliffe Gordon, Matt Wilson.