Blue Interlude (1992)

Wynton Marsalis was young before it was fashionable. More than a decade ago, he set the stage for the current youth-minded jazz industry, of which the gifted trumpeter Roy Hargrove, 22, is a key player. Wynton has since dropped the bravura and look-Ma-no-hands technical gusto of his young(er) days. Of late, he has been savoring long notes, luxuriant horn textures, slow, bluesy tempos, and long-form compositions in Blue Interlude (the title suite racks up 40 minutes). What we miss are dazzling moments from the leader himself, now 30 and seemingly content to step back a bit from the spotlight and focus more on his written notes and the solo voices around him. Whereas Marsalis continues to nurture his creative vision, the wet-behind-the-horn Hargrove is still polishing his chops and looking for a voice to call his own. A-