This recording of "My Shining Hour" comes from The Doug Webb Quartet's 2014 album Sets the Standard. Written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Johnny Mercer for the 1943 film The Sky's the Limit, the song is a buoyant, optimistic standard that has attracted jazz musicians for its strong melodic line and appealing harmonic movement. Webb takes the tune at a blazing 290 BPM on soprano saxophone, delivering three choruses of fluid, inventive improvisation over the 32-bar AB form in E-flat. His soprano work is crisp and assured, navigating the rapid tempo with the technical command that has made him one of the most sought-after reed players on the West Coast jazz scene. Pianist Alan Broadbent follows with two choruses of his own at an even faster 296 BPM, bringing his celebrated harmonic sophistication and lyrical touch to the uptempo setting. Broadbent, a New Zealand-born pianist who studied with Lennie Tristano, is renowned for his arranging work as well as his playing, and his solo here demonstrates his ability to maintain musical depth even at extreme tempos. The interplay between Webb's bright soprano and Broadbent's elegant piano defines the track's character, establishing the high level of musicianship that runs throughout the album.
