Bobby Watson, who recorded his second date as a leader as Robert Watson, showed lots of promise during this date recorded near the beginning of his postgraduate training as a member of Art Blakey the Jazz Messengers. Fellow Blakey alumni James Williams (piano) and trombonist Curtis Fuller join him, along with drummer Victor Lewis (who became a longtime collaborator in future Watson-led groups), bassist Ray Drummond, and tenor saxophonist Charles Bowen. Watson's solos are enjoyable but not quite as finely hewn as his later work in the 1980s and 1990s with his group Horizon and the 29th Street Saxophone Quartet. Watson's strength on this sessions is as a composer; the snappy Fuller Love became a staple in the alto saxophonist's live performances, though it was later retitled In Case You Missed It. The gem of the date is his buoyant, very lively tribute to his wife, Pamela, a talented composer in her own right who co-composed A Second Party with her husband and adds her soulful vocals. Days of Wine and Roses opens with a highly polished duet by Watson and Williams, before the band joins in to transform it into a brisk cooker to wrap the LP. Unjustly long out of print, like far too many of Bobby Watson's dates as a leader, this album should be snapped up in a heartbeat when located. ~ Ken Dryden, Rovi

1		In Maya's Apartment
2		All Because of You
3		Fuller Love
4		Pamela
5		Second Party
6		Days of Wine and Roses

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