Here's a masterclass for trombonists everywhere. The album title means not only ‘we're artists of the trombone’, but is also a tribute to Art Blakey with whose Jazz Messengers all four served apprenticeships. They all contribute originals to this complex 10-track set with Turre paying personal tributes to Slide Hampton, Lawrence Brown, Ellington himself, Curtis Fuller, Julian Priester and bandmate Eubanks, while Davis nods to Charlie Parker, Eubanks to Wayne Shorter and Blakey, Lacy serenades his Houston, Texas upbringing with the robust, even rasping ‘Settegast Strut’. You'll hear a variety of trombone sounds, from open to pixieplunger cup mute, metal straight mute, Harmon and bucket mutes, even a handmade wooden cup mute and a Stonelined Cup Mute! All four have refreshing easily indentifiable personal sounds and there are also excellent solos by Xavier Davis, who hasn't appeared on many sessions recently. The funk track ‘4 & 9’ with Fender Rhodes and electric bass works very well in contrast to the others, with Eubanks taking the honours. Turre's ballad for his friend Fuller is extremely moving. The final track, Steve Davis’ up-tempo latin rhythmed ‘Daylight’ has Turre on his favoured conch shells and adds the great Cuban percussionist Pedro Martinez to the swinging team of Washington and the superb Willie Jones. The whole album, with nearly 70 minutes of music, was cut in an eight-hour session in Brooklyn and would have been even better with an extra rehearsal.