Variations in Blue

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[4]

In his review on Allmusic, Scott Yanow stated "Bill Barron, who spent much of his life as a music educator, played inventive solos that sounded both spontaneous and well thought-out. Barron, who was underrated throughout his career, cut three records for Muse during 1978–1987, of which this set was the second".^[4]

All compositions by Bill Barron except where noted.

1. "Variations in Blue" – 6:15
2. "September 1979" – 7:09
3. "Be Who You Are" – 7:03
4. "The Name of This Is" – 7:44
5. "Swingin' in Bushnell Park" – 9:10
6. "Minority" (Basheer Qusim) – 6:36

• Bill Barron – tenor saxophone
• Jimmy Owens – trumpet
• Kenny Barron – piano
• Ray Drummond – bass
• Ben Riley – drums