Joshua Breakstone: Wonderful!

     Guitarist Joshua Breakstone recorded this, his first album, back in 1983. Wonderful! features the superb rhythm section of Barry Harris on piano, Earl Sauls on bass (also making his recorded debut), and Leroy Williams on drums. The album was originally released on the Canadian Sonora label, and this reissue on Capri is the first time it has appeared on compact disc. The nicely varied program leads off with a hard-swinging version of Gershwin’s S’Wonderful, segues to a lovely extended version of Tadd Dameron’s Soultrane, and follows that up with a pair of Breakstone’s original compositions. There’s also the unexpected delight of a finger-snapping version of Lennie Tristano’s Two Not One, first heard on Lee Konitz & Warne Marsh’s 1955 Atlantic album, and the concluding romp through Django’s Castle, a Django Reinhardt composition. Breakstone is cramming a lot of notes into his solos, but now he says that he can’t help but think “If I only knew then what I know now.” Wonderful! was an auspicious beginning to Breakstone’s long career, which has seen him tour Japan frequently, as well as collaborating with such luminaries as pianist Kenny Barron, organist Jack McDuff, and baritone saxophonist Pepper Adams on nearly two dozen releases over the years. Fans will be happy to have this debut date widely available. 

Capri 71006-2; Joshua Breakstone (g) Barry Harris (p) Earl Sauls (b) Leroy Williams (d); NYC, May 24, 1983; S’Wonderful/ Soul Train [sic]/ Sevens-up/ This Is It!/ Time on My Hands/ Two Not One/ Django’s Castle; 45:28. caprirecords.com