Gary Bartz Quintet – Libra Milestone MSP 9006 (1967)
A nice, if very straightforward, post-bop album from saxophonist Gary Bartz. This is not too far off from what he would have been doing when he played in The Jazz Messengers, or what Miles Davis‘ groups were up to in the mid-1960s. Bartz’s quintet is packed with big names. Bassist Richard Davis really emerges as one of the most delightful voices. Bartz isn’t a particularly strong presence, and he hasn’t yet found his unique voice that relied on long, sinuous lines that fit into a jazz/rock fusion setting. Even if this doesn’t push any boundaries, it is still adeptly played stuff with appeal for many listeners.