Trumpeter Art Farmer's first album as a leader was The Art Farmer Septet, recorded for Prestige on July 2, 1953—71 years ago. The lineup was Art Farmer (tp), Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Oscar Estelle (as,bar), Clifford Solomon (ts), Quincy Jones (p,arr), Monk Montgomery (el-b) and Sonny Johnson (d).
The entire album is quite good, but the song that stands out for me is Quincy Jones's Work of Art, written and arranged by Jones specifically for this recording session. The song opens with a soft snare roll followed by a brilliant septet arrangement by Jones that spaced out the instruments so they sound almost like a vocal choir. Then Farmer, one of jazz's prettiest trumpeters and flugelhornists, takes over with lyrical improvisation.
A couple of interesting notes: On the track, Jones is playing piano, and Monk Montgomery is on an electric bass.
Here's Art Farmer's recording of Work of Art...
Other Perfection tracks in this ongoing series...