Minor Mutiny is most significant for documenting the recording debut of Ryan Kisor (the winner of the Thelonious Monk Institute's 1990 trumpet contest), tenor saxophonist Ravi Coltrane (son of John) and drummer Jeff Siegel. Kisor's first date finds the teenager playing moody originals, including six of his originals and two by the date's producer Jack DeJohnette. The compositions are often not all that interesting, giving a certain melancholy sameness to many of the performances. Kisor's lyrical sound and surprising but logical twists in his solos recall Tom Harrell but he was already on his way to developing his own conception. Coltrane at that point seemed to be mainly influenced by Branford Marsalis with a touch of Michael Brecker. Overall the musicians (which also include keyboardist Michael Cain, bassist Lonnie Plaxico and on two songs drummer Jack DeJohnette) prove to be stronger than the material on this decent and somewhat historic effort. - Scott Yanow
Tracks
1. One For Miles (Ryan Kisor)
2. Ebony (Jack DeJohnette)
3. Minor Mutiny (Ryan Kisor)
4. Little Nick (Ryan Kisor)
5. Exotic Isles (Jack DeJohnette)
6. The Invisible (J. Exposito)
7. A New Day (Ryan Kisor)
8. Somewhere In The Dark (Ryan Kisor)
9. For Erin (Ryan Kisor)
RYAN KISOR trumpet, flugelhorn (2, 7)
MICHAEL CAIN piano
RAVI COLTRANE tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
JACK DeJOHNETTE drums (2, 5)
LONNIE PLAXICO bass
JEFF SIEGEL drums (1, 3-4, 6-9)
Recorded at Dreamland Studios, New York City
Columbia – CK 48796