Ernie Watts, Pete Christlieb, Rickey Woodard - The Tenor Trio (1997)

Tenors Ernie Watts, Pete Christlieb and Rickey Woodard are matched up for what is essentially a well-organized boppish jam session. With pianist Gerry Wiggins, bassist Chuck Berghofer and drummer Frank Capp offering fine support, the saxophonists perform 11 songs together, all of which are taken at least at a medium tempo. The repertoire is fairly typical for a jam of this nature, with such songs as "Blues Up and Down," "Groovin' High," Dexter Gordon's "Fried Bananas," and "Little Pony" being given spirited treatment. Watts takes the most intense solos, Christlieb swings up a storm, and Woodard (if a little overshadowed) also fares well. The inclusion of a ballad medley and maybe an individual feature or two might have givem the date more variety, but the results are quite fun.