Five of the six selections on this CD reissue feature drummer Art Taylor in an all-star sextet of mostly young players comprised of trumpeter Donald Byrd, altoist Jackie McLean, Charlie Rouse on tenor, pianist Ray Bryant, and bassist Wendell Marshall. Among the highpoints of the 1957 hard bop date are the original version of Bryant's popular "Cubano Chant" and strong renditions of two Thelonious Monk tunes ("Off Minor" and "Well, You Needn't") cut just prior to the pianist/composer's discovery by the jazz public. Bryant is the most mature of the soloists, but the three horn players were already starting to develop their own highly individual sounds. The remaining track (a version of Jimmy Heath's "C.T.A.") is played by the quartet of Taylor, tenor saxophonist John Coltrane, pianist Red Garland, and bassist Paul Chambers and is a leftover (although a good one) from another session.
- Art Taylor - drums
- Donald Byrd (#1,3-6) - trumpet
- Jackie McLean (#1,3-6) - alto saxophone
- Charlie Rouse (#1,3-6), John Coltrane (#2) - tenor saxophone
- Ray Bryant (#1,3-6), Red Garland (#2) - piano
- Wendell Marshall (#1,3-6), Paul Chambers (#2) - bass
Recorded at the Van Gelder Studios, Hackensack, NJ on February 25 (#1,3-6) and March 22 (#2), 1957.
01. Batland (Sears) - 9:53
02. C.T.A. (Heath) - 4:44
03. Exhibit A (Sears) - 6:15
04. Cubano Chant (Bryant) - 6:36
05. Off Minor (Monk) - 5:38
06. Well, You Needn't (Monk) - 8:01
