Walter Benton, who lived till the age of 70, never won any Downbeat Critics (or Readers) Polls. But, for those of us who know his work, he was one of the nicest things to happen in jazz around this time. A west coaster, first heard on a Kenny Clarke Savoy date and, a year later, a Clifford Brown All-Stars session in 1954, he spent several years in Pérez Prado's acclaimed latin band before settling in New York in 1960. Musicians obviously recognised his talents because he become a member of Max Roach's group and appeared on Max's most politically slanted albums. He also recorded several tunes with Eric Dolphy and was quite a regular on critic Nat Hentoff's Candid label sessions. This Jazzland album was sadly his only album as a leader, but it's thoroughly enjoyable with the two horns backed by one of the most relaxed, swinging rhythm sections you could wish for – absolutely sublime. Hubbard plays beautifully on the date, mainly in middle and lower registers, reflecting the relaxation of the rhythm team. As for Benton, producer Orrin Keepnews compares him to one of his tutors, Lucky Thompson. Personally, I hear more mid-1950s, Miles-period Rollins. He also writes excellent tunes. His ballad playing (‘Iris’ and ‘Lover Man’) is outstanding and he certainly has the chops to charge through up-tempo familiar changes (‘Night Movement’ and ‘Azil’), but the best by far is the, again, Rollins-ish ‘Walter's Alter’ with an absolutely marvellous tenor solo. A track I'd take to a desert island without hesitation.