This underrated master of the trombone is still with us at age 80 and for this we are grateful! This date done in 1960 was Julian Priester's first under his own name. Priester is from Chicago and like so many Chicago legends, he graduated from DuSable High School in the Jazz program conducted by Captain Walter Dyett. Julian first worked with Sun Ra then Lionel Hampton and ended up in New York at the right time. He was heard as a sideman and then offered this date for Riverside Records. Julian picked his sidemen wisely and had tenor saxophone giant Jimmy Heath on the front line. Tommy Flanagan was chosen for the piano spot. The great Sam Jones was on bass and the dynamic Elvin Jones was on drums. The tunes are a good mix of originals and quality standards and the album has a nice balance. "Keep Swingin'" is reflective of the high standards of New York Jazz in the early 60s. Julian went on to work with many people including Max Roach, Duke Ellington and Herbie Hancock but that's for another time, meanwhile we'll keep swingin'!
