Makoto Ozone: The Trio

This is really two albums in one: the title track and four succeeding selections comprise the 1963 LP of the same name, while tracks six through 13 come from Stitt’s Now, a quartet date recorded three months earlier, which also uses pianist Hank Jones. All very pleasant goods with Stitt mostly on tenor. The title track, an uptempo blues, features chase choruses that go from 12 to two-bar exchanges. At nearly 73 minutes this is a terrific value, too!

Originally Published October 1, 1997