JOE TEMPERLEY – Double Duke – CD – 86032-2

Baritonist Joe Temperley, who occupied Harry Carney’s chair in the Duke Ellington Orchestra for a time after the former’s death in 1974, has often emulated Carney’s sound with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra since joining in 1990. However, Temperley — who also plays soprano sax and bass clarinet on this superior set — is much more than merely a Carney clone, and he has an appealing sound of his own. He is teamed up here with four other musicians from the world of Wynton Marsalis: trombonist Wycliff Gordon (who is a major asset on Duke Ellington material since he is an expert with the plunger mute), pianist Eric Reed, bassist Rodney Whitaker and drummer Herlin Riley. (…) Superior straightahead jazz.

Scott Yanow / AllMusic