by Scott YanowBaritonist Leo Parker was in the early stages of a comeback when he recorded this, his second Blue Note album of 1961. Tragically, he died just four months later at the age of 36. Performing with a fairly obscure cast (trumpeter Dave Burns is the best known of his sidemen), the full-toned baritonist (who was most influenced by Illinois Jacquet and Charlie Parker) is in excellent form on these basic blues, ballads, and jump tunes.