Statesmen of Jazz Vol 1

Benny Waters (alto saxophone)
Buddy Tate (tenor saxophone)
Clark Terry, Joe Wilder (flugelhorn)
Al Grey (trombone)
Claude Williams (violin)
Jane Jarvis (piano)
Milt Hinton (bass)
Panama Francis (drums).

This is a rather historic recording, for it finds altoist Benny Waters, the oldest active jazz musician at a month shy of 93, in surprisingly fiery form; his feature on "Blue Waters" is easily the high point. The other members of the Statesmen of Jazz (a group sponsored by the American Federation of Jazz Societies) are all senior citizens too: violinist Claude Williams (86), flugelhornist Clark Terry (74), trumpeter Joe Wilder (72), trombonist Al Grey (69), tenor saxoponist Buddy Tate (79), pianist Jane Jarvis (79), bassist Milt Hinton (84), and drummer Panama Francis (76). Although Tate was a little past his prime and Wilder a bit erratic due to dental surgery, this is a particularly infectious date of well-played swing. Waters, Williams, and Terry take solo honors. Recommended.—Scott Yanow