You can trace trombonist Curtis Fuller's career back to John Coltrane's classic "Blue Train" and the records he made with Art Blakey, Bud Powell, Lee Morgan, and countless other greats since 1956. There's no doubt about it, Fuller can claim a large chunk of jazz history. But over all those decades Fuller has released only three-dozen albums as a leader, so when he does, it's an occasion. Aside from his trombone prowess, Fuller is a great writer and most of the tracks on his wonderful new double CD are his compositions. While the title tune is a beautiful ballad, most of the others are up-tempo. All are jazz classics with great heads and ample room for improvisation over their inventive chord changes. Aside from Fuller's own excellent solos, he's got just the band to take superb flights at every turn: Keith Oxman on tenor sax; Al Hood, trumpet; Chip Stephens, piano; Ken Walker, bass; and Todd Reid, drums. Best of all, in addition to the carefully crafted studio tracks, there's a second CD featuring a spirited live set by the same fantastic band.