Clifford Brown - Clifford Brown's Finest Hour (2000)

The game of historical "what ifs" can also be applied to music. What if, for example, Clifford Brown had decided to stay an extra night in Philadelphia in June 1956 rather than taking a lift to Chicago? If he had, he wouldn't have been involved in the car accident that took his life at the age of 26. What would he have gone on to do? Already at such a tender age, Brown was being touted by Miles Davis, among others, as one of the greatest trumpeters of his generation. His ability to pack so much into a tune without making it sound overcrowded was a hallmark of many of his recordings. This collection comprises tunes from the EmArcy label spanning two years before his accident, and it amply showcases his warm style. Although still young, Brown had become a master at both fast-ahead hard bop and slow, gentle ballads. Tracks include originals "Joy Spring" and "Daahound," and numbers like "Cherokee" that he made his own. The quality of backing musicians is also of the highest caliber with the likes of Sonny Rollins and Max Roach reveling in the company of the young legend. "What ifs" is a guessing game. "It happened" is certainty, and Clifford Brown was a brilliant trumpeter who produced brilliant music. That happened. And this album captures it.