Johnny Coles was not only small in stature, but was also never destined to become a real celebrity. Although he toured for years as a sideman with jazz greats, he was never destined for a real breakthrough as a leader and even this album under his name can be attributed equally to arranger and pianist Duke Pearson. Nevertheless, it is a fantastic album on which little Johnny can show that Miles Davis was not the measure of all things when it came to playing with soul.

In addition to Johnny Cole on trumpet, Leo Wright plays alto saxophone and flute, Joe Henderson on tenor saxophone, Duke Pearson on piano, Bob Crenshaw on bass and Walter Perkins and Pete LaRoca on drums. The result is an exciting blend of obscure material and catchy tunes.

Although trumpeter Johnny Coles played on albums by Blue Note stars Herbie Hancock and Grant Green in the 1960s, he only recorded one album for the label under his own name: "Little Johnny C". But it had it all! Coles could be heard here with original compositions and in collaboration with some of the most progressive musicians of the time.

The trumpeter JOHNNY COLES is still remembered in the collective memory of jazz history for his work with James Moody, Gil Evans and Charles Mingus. His trumpet tone was lush, lyrical and at the same time exceptionally powerful. In his entire career, he recorded just four albums under his own name and "Little Johnny C" is perhaps the most remarkable of them. COLES' recordings from July 18 and August 9, 1963 in the legendary Van Gelder studios were made in large part by the then Blue Note house pianist Duke Pearson, who also served as arranger and composer of almost all the tracks. Little Johnny C" is also extraordinarily interesting due to the tenor saxophone line-up: the young, audibly adventurous Joe Henderson can be heard here on one of his earliest sideman recordings for Blue Note.