Quite a few of Posi-Tone's artistes are based on America's west coast and not that well-known in the UK, though some definitely should be. Like this trumpet player living in Portland, Oregon (where this album was recorded, at Dead Aunt Thelma's studio). Newton never seems short of work, and is a regular member of the very best R&B and soul bands when they tour his territory. This is his jazz quintet and you can tell at once that his idol is Freddie Hubbard, whose catchy up-tempo tune ‘Arietas’ is included here, along with Clifford Brown's ‘Back to Earth’ and Wayne Shorter's ‘El Gaucho’, plus eight Newton originals, all of which are of interest, especially the opening ‘Transcendentals’, ‘Crossing the Tracks’, ‘Gazillionaire’ and… well, they're all pretty good. Farnell is a fine, robust soloist, who deserves serious recognition. Equally good is his pianist Greg Goebel, who is featured strongly throughout and who seems to have a style of his own. Wonder if he's a composer, too? The quintet is due to record again within the next month. A band to keep an eye on.