Rare work as a leader from trombonist Milt Bernhart – a great player from the west coast scene of the 50s, but one with a tone that's a bit sweeter than that of some of his contemporaries! The CD brings together an LP and EP recorded for RCA in the mid 50s – with arrangements by Jimmy Giuffre, Pete Candoli, Pete Rugolo,
Andre Previn, and Shorty Rogers! The first 4 tracks in the set are all octet tracks with Bernhart as the main soloist – sweetly-crafted tunes that have him arcing his trombone in warm lines that really glisten wonderfully. Titles include Jimmy Guiffre originals "Scarf Dance", "Ballade", and "Safari" – plus a version of "Lover Man". These are followed by 13 more from an album titled Modern Brass – a record that has some of the more modern echoes of Milt's work with Stan Kenton, but which also shows the warmer sound of his horn too – making for a nice interplay between modes that goes deeper than the usual RCA set from the time. Other players include Pete Candoli, Red Mitchell, Jack Marshall, Shorty Rogers, John Graas, and Ray Linn – and titles include "Southern Comfort", "Hillside", "Looking For A Boy", "London In July", "Amor Flamenco", and "Lavender".