Sweet trumpet work from one of Duke Ellington's best sidemen – done for Mercury in 1958 with some very tight arrangements by
Anderson and Ernie Wilkins – all in a mode that show's a bit of
Cat's Ellington association, but which also opens up in some other swinging modes – including a bit of Basie, and even some wider ranging styles.
Cat's in the lead on trumpet, getting support from other players on the instrument – including Clark Terry, Ernie Royal, and Ray Copeland – plus Jimmy Cleveland and Frank Rehack on trombone, Earl Warren on alto sax, Jimmy Forrest and Ernie Wilkins on tenor, and Sahib Shihab on baritone. Titles include "Little Man", "
Cat's In The Alley", "June Bug", "Adorable D", "Nina", "Birth Of The Blues", and "Blue Jean Beguine".
(Blue label mono pressing with deep groove. Cover has light wear.)