Romare Bearden Revealed

In 1984, Wynton Marsalis — already a rising star — called his quintet's pianist Kenny Kirkland and drummer Jeff 'Tain' Watts the best young players on the scene, yet completely unrecognized. The spotlight stayed on the leader; the sidemen he rated above himself remained unknown.

In the early 1980s, Wynton Marsalis said his quintet's arrangements weren't dictated by the bandleader: whatever chord Kenny Kirkland played became the chord of the tune, and whatever beat Jeff 'Tain' Watts played became its meter.