For any musician of talent to be "dimly remembered," as was once written about Al Killian, is a shame in itself. If the subject in question was an accomplished high note trumpeter, it becomes a bit mysterious as well, as playing high notes with pizzazz is supposed to be what makes trumpeters famous, not obscure. There are even so-called "high note festivals," where musicians receive rousing ovations for such ear-piercing activities. When the so-called obscure musician was the victim of a shocking murder, and his name happens to be "Killian," it really makes one wonder how jazz history could have left this particular individual behind. Maybe there wasn't room for all his credits, which go on and on and on. Not only did he play with two of the faces on the Mount Rushmore of big bands, Duke Ellington and Count Basie, he was also fascinated with the new bop developments in jazz. He recorded with Charlie Parker, and prior to the abrupt end to his life, Killian was part of the action-packed Los Angeles hard bop jam session scene so vividly documented on the Savoy release entitled Black California. This set documents a jam session led by Killian that also features alto saxophonist Sonny Criss, and manages to capture what many a jazz record doesn't: the sound of musicians jamming, off the cuff and with no commercial pressures.