Riverfront Times March 16, 1994
Next up is another tribute… but this
time by a young drummer, Sebastian Whit-
taker, to one of the legendary jazz percuss-
ionists of all time, Art Blakey. It’s called One
for Bu!! (Blakey’s nickname) and it’s on the
Justice label. Whittaker, a Houston-born drum-
mer who turned in a very impressive performance
at Just Jazz a couple of years back, definitely has
a driving, energetic style a la Blakey. And – also
like Blakey – he’s more than happy to open up
the composing chores to everyone in his band, the
Creators.
Of the 10 tunes on the CD, only two are covers,
and five of the seven members of the group – including
Whittaker – contribute tunes to the recording. As a
result, there’s plenty of variety, from the smooth bop
of “Uncle Soonie” and the New Orleans second-line
influence on “Mopac at Midnight” to the hard-driving
groove of “Canino Road” and the rousing fire and fury
generated by Whittaker’s drumming on “Cherokee.”
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