The vast majority of the trumpet kings of jazz never strayed from their original instrument and with good reason and results. But as history tells us, experimentation is inevitable. A few found their voice with the mellower flugelhorn (such as Art Farmer, Clark Terry, Thad Jones) or the smaller cornet (including Bix Beiderbecke, King Oliver, Rex Stewart). On too rare of occasion, the runt of the family, the "pocket trumpet", measuring only nine inches in length, was taken up by the likes of Don Cherry, Ted Curson and, for his 1959 release Fuego, Donald Byrd.

Personally writing all six of the original compositions for this album, a tight band of New York monsters were gathered; especially Jackie McLean whose alto brought balance to the unique high timbre of Byrd's minute horn. The great Duke Pearson's piano fills in admirably as does the highly underrated bass playing of Doug Watkins.