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The title's terrible, but the album's a great one – a really classic-styled jam session, of the sort that the Prestige label hardly ever recorded! The session features 4 tenor giants of slightly older vintage – Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Coleman Hawkins, Arnett Cobb, and Buddy Tate – all coming together in some loosely-structured arrangements that offer the same sympathetic blowing space that you might get from an all-star tenor date on Verve. Rhythm is by a trio with Shirley Scott on organ, George Duvivier on bass, and Art Edgehill on drums – and titles include "Very Saxy", "Fourmost", "Foot Pattin", and "Light & Lovely".

An amazing set throughout – not just for the musical growth of Coleman Hawkins, but also for the development of the tenor sax in jazz, too! These sides could very well be said to be THE seminal recordings for tenor – the records that helped transform the instrument from a bit of a trick noisemaker into one of the most dominant voices in jazz during the 20th century – the beginning of a rich legacy that went onto encompass Lester Young, Stan Getz, John Coltrane, and so many others! The package captures Coleman Hawkins right at the start of his career – with vital early 78rpm recordings that move from trad to swing to some of the modern combo sounds that Hawkins would blow in the postwar years. And the range of settings is amazing, too – not a loose collection or mish-mash of material, but a really thoughtful progression that has Hawkins working with Mamie Smith, Fletcher Henderson, Clarence Williams, The Chocolate Dandies, and McKinney's Cotton Pickers in the early years – then moving up to work as a leader on his own – as well as material with Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman, Benny Carter, and Count Basie. Most of the later material is for small labels – like Baronet, Cont, Meritt, Neatwork, and others – and the early sides are for Okeh, Columbia, Vocalion, Brunswick, and other smaller imprints. Features 190 tracks in all, and very copious notes, too – an amazing package from Mosaic!

Great 40s material – with trumpeters that include Buck Clayton, Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers, and Joe Thomas.

An obscure session that was nearly lost, because it was issued on a cheapo label – but which features some really great work from Coleman Hawkins! The format is small combo, with long tracks that really open up – and Hawk is blowing in that fantastic mode that he began to use a lot around the end of the 50s. His tone is incredible – at once deep and soulful, but also touched with some raspiness and a bit of a biting reed approach – almost a bit of Sonny Rollins at times, with a sound that really makes us want to listen to more work from this fruitful (and overlooked) time in Hawk's career! Players include Thad Jones on trumpet, Eddie Costa on piano and vibes, George Duvivier on bass, and Osie Johnson on drums – and titles include "Bean In Orbit", "Stalking", "Moodsville", and "Hassle".

Gritty grooves from Coleman Hawkins – a set that has the aging tenorist still working in swing-based formation, but with a much blusier tone than on his Verve albums of the decade! The group's a small one – with Hawkins on tenor and Charlie Shavers on trumpet – plus some especially nice guitar work from Tiny Grimes, who really underscores the soul of the session, and almost makes the whole thing feel a bit more laidback and open than usual. Rhythm is from the trio of Ray Bryant on piano, George Duvivier on bass, and Osie Johnson on drums – and the album features two very long tracks – "Hawk Eyes" and "C'Mon In" – which are more blowing session numbers – plus the shorter tunes "Stealin The Bean", "La Rosita", "I Neer Knew", and "Through For The Night".

A key album in the reintroduction of Coleman Hawkins in the late 50s – recorded in a style that still bears a lot of traces of earlier years, but at a time when Hawk was being claimed as a key influence by a variety of younger modernists! The set's got a sense of freedom that's really surprising – especially on the longer numbers, which unfold with some playful instrumental twists that seem to come especially from trumpeter Idrees Sulieman and trombonist JJ Johnson – both of whom are great on the record. Other players include Hank Jones on piano, Barry Galbraith on guitar, and Oscar Pettiford on bass – and titles include "Juicy Fruit", "Think Deep", "Blue Lights", "Sanctity", and "Chant".

A key album in the reintroduction of Coleman Hawkins in the late 50s – recorded in a style that still bears a lot of traces of earlier years, but at a time when Hawk was being claimed as a key influence by a variety of younger modernists! The set's got a sense of freedom that's really surprising – especially on the longer numbers, which unfold with some playful instrumental twists that seem to come especially from trumpeter Idrees Sulieman and trombonist JJ Johnson – both of whom are great on the record. Other players include Hank Jones on piano, Barry Galbraith on guitar, and Oscar Pettiford on bass – and titles include "Juicy Fruit", "Think Deep", "Blue Lights", "Sanctity", and "Chant".

Massive later music from Coleman Hawkins – a date that might be easy to overlook, given the unassuming package – but one that really features that newfound mix of modernism and soul that graced the later years of Hawk! The setting is a bit unusual, but that's part of the charm – as Hawkins' tenor comes into play with the trumpet of Thad Jones, piano and vibes of Eddie Costa, bass of George Duvivier, and drums of Osie Johnson – a group who are mostly easygoing, and really let Coleman take the lead – although Jones gets in a few great moments too! Titles include "Cloudy", "Almost Dawn", "Stake Out", "Cross Town", and "Shadows".

Great later work from this tenor giant – some of his sublime and surprisingly modern work for the Moodsville label!

A beautiful LP issue of material originally issued on 78s!

A great collection – one that features a side of material from the album Soul, with piano by Ray Bryant; and another side of a set recorded with the Red Garland Trio. Also features the full album At Ease – wonderful late work by Coleman Hawkins – a player who was very much "at ease" with himself at the time, and opened up tremendously on albums like this. The format is beautiful – simple small group backings by Tommy Flanagan, Wendell Marshall, and Osie Johnson – with Coleman out front, blowing these deep and mellow tenor lines that could stop a locomotive in its tracks! Titles include "At Dawning", "I'll Get By", "For You For Me For Evermore", and "Mighty Lak A Rose".

Great later Coleman Hawkins on Impulse – just the sort of deep-toned, soulfully-blown record that makes all his sessions for the label so great! Hawk's very firmly in the lead on that classic tenor of his – but the rest of the lineup keeps things swinging too – with Snooky Young and Bill Berry on trumpets, Urbie Green on trombone, Barry Harris on piano, and Eddie Locke on drums. The best tracks are the sparest – the album's quartet readings of "Out of Nowhere" and "Indian Summer" – but the rest of the material features some nice gutsy solos from Hawk too, and other tracks include "Bean's Place", "Marchetta", and "She's Fit".

Great material from the 78rpm years of Savoy Records – early singles by Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, Illinois Jacquet, Ike Quebec, and John Hardee – sides that nicely skirt the worlds of bop and swing!

A wonderful little record – a real standout in both the careers of Milt Jackson and Coleman Hawkins! The album captures Hawk during his great later years – that time when his sound was even more soulful and inventive than ever – with lots of odd modern undercurrents that really work nicely with the album's slight Latin inflections – a bit like those you might hear on some of Hawkins' Impulse Records material from the same generation. Milt Jackson's vibes are great too – chromatic and edgey, and set up with rhythm support from Kenny Burrell on guitar, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Eddie Jones on bass, and Connie Kay on drums. Titles include "Indian Blues", "Don't Take Your Love From Me", "Sandra's Blues", "Stuffy", and "Close Your Eyes".

A wonderful little record – a real standout in both the careers of Milt Jackson and Coleman Hawkins! The album captures Hawk during his great later years – that time when his sound was even more soulful and inventive than ever – with lots of odd modern undercurrents that really work nicely with the album's slight Latin inflections – a bit like those you might hear on some of Hawkins' Impulse Records material from the same generation. Milt Jackson's vibes are great too – chromatic and edgey, and set up with rhythm support from Kenny Burrell on guitar, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Eddie Jones on bass, and Connie Kay on drums. Titles include "Indian Blues", "Don't Take Your Love From Me", "Sandra's Blues", "Stuffy", and "Close Your Eyes".

An interesting tribute to the passing of pianist Eddie Costa – mostly because the overall feel is much more in a soulful hardbop mode, quite different than the modern and chamber sides that Costa cut during the 50s! Side one features work by the Clark Terry quartet – with Terry on trumpet, Dick Hyman on piano, Art Davis on drums, and Osie Johnson on bass – and side two features and even better group led by Coleman Hawkins – with Hawk blowing in that great late solo style of his, alongside players that include Sonny Clark, Roy Haynes, and Chuck Israels. Tracks on the album are all long and intimate – mellow, but soulful, with plenty of interesting solo space. Titles include "The Simple Waltz", "Just You Just Me", "I'm Confessin", and "Things Ain't What They Used To Be".

A great little album from Kenny Burrell – one that has Ray Barretto's congas on most cuts, giving the album a similar Latiny feel to Kenny's classic Midnight Blue album on Blue Note! The Latin undercurrent hits both New York and bossa-styled modes – a great setting for Burrell's thin, snakey lines on guitar – and also a surprisingly great showcase for the tenor of Coleman Hawkins, which really opens up nicely in this setting – in ways that are a bit like his own bossa date for Impulse, or the sound of Ike Quebec's Soul Samba album! Rhythm is by Tommy Flanagan on piano, Major Holley on bass, and Eddie Locke on drums – and titles include "Tres Talbras", "Montono Blues", "Guilty", "No More", and "It's Getting Dark".

A great little jam session from Verve – done in a style that's looser and freer than some of the JATP albums, and with a smaller group overall! Players include Stan Getz, Paul Gonsalves, and Coleman Hawkins on tenor, Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet, and Wynton Kelly on piano – plus bass by Wendell and drums from JC Heard. There's a rougher, more spontaneous quality here than even on some of the other Norman Granz jam session records – a feel that's almost more "real" overall, as if you were catching the players all working together in a club. Each side features 2 long tracks – one upbeat and one mellow – and the tenor interplay alone is worth the price of the record! Titles include long takes on "Dizzy Atmosphere" and "The Way You Look Tonight" – plus 2 additional ballad medleys!

The Hawk, in prime late form, lays down some beautiful tenor solos over gentle bossa nova accompaniment – working in a mode that's much more satisfying than just a "classic player meets bossa" session, angularly crafting the solos with that dark edge that he had in all of his later work. The groove's similar to a Stan Getz bossa outing, with light acoustic guitar backing him up, but Hawkins' playing is very deep and soulful, and the groove gets very low. With the great cuts "Samba Para Bean" and "Stumpy Bossa Nova".

A sweet little 50s session from Hawk – recorded for the World Wide subsidary of Savoy, in a great style that has plenty of room for solo space! Tracks are long, and arranged by Billy Ver Plank – with a moody small combo mode that lets Hawkins get in plenty of those edgey bits in his solos, hidden underneath ostensibly sweeter playing. The rest of the group includes Frank Wess, Marshall Royal, and Frank Foster – and titles include "Ooga Dooga", "Thanks For The Misery", "There Is Nothing Like A Dame", and "An Evening At Papa Joe's".

Great late work from Hawk – recorded near the end of his life, with a soulful quartet that included Barry Harris on piano and Bob Cranshaw on bass. The tracks are all fairly standard – like "Sugar", "The Man I Love", "Time On My Hands", and "The One I Love" – but Hawkins' tone is incredible, with a raspy edge, and some surprisingly modern moments that show that he was always continuing to grow as an artist. The material is issued here for the first time by Pablo Records – in a set put together in 1975.

Coleman Hawkins plays tenor sax and is joined by Tommy Flanagan on piano, Major Holley on bass and Eddie Locke playing drums. The record is based on Richard Rodgers' musical No Strings and includes "Look No Further", "La La La", "Nobody Told Me", "Maine", "Loads Of Love", "The Sweetest Sounds", "Be My Host", "The Man Who Has Everything", and "No Strings".

Late 60s issue of a fantastic Coleman Hawkins session from the late 50s – recorded with a septet that included Idrees Sulieman, Hank Jones, JJ Johnson, and Oscar Pettiford – and with an open-ended tone that veers towards the Prestige blowing session mode, but which is also tighter, and touched with traces of the modernism that Hawk had on his late solos at the time. Titles include the long tracks "Juicy Fruit" and "Sanctity" – plus "Chant", "Think Deep", and "Blue Lights".

A beautiful record – but that's no surprise, since most of the later work of Coleman Hawkins tends to be great! The setting is quite laidback – and Hawkins' time-weathered tenor is placed in a perfect setting with Tommy Flanagan on piano, Major Holley on bass, and Eddie Locke on drums. The set list is spare, with simple quartet arrangements – but Hawk's solos are mindblowingly perfect, and with a great edge that you won't find in his earlier recordings. It's hard to describe what we're talking about –but the more and more we listen to his later records, the more we realize what a genius he was! Includes the tracks "Don't' Love Me", "Quintessence", "Go Lil Liza", and "Swingin' Scotch".

Something wonderful happened to Coleman Hawkins at the end of his career – record companies started letting him record in really long formats, stretching out creatively on extended solos that continued to push the boundaries of his talents! This set is a prime example of that shift – as it features Hawkins alongside Roy Eldridge and Johnny Hodges – all working with trio backing by Tommy Flanagan, Major Holley, and Eddie Locke in a live setting at the Village Gate. Tracks are all well over ten minutes long – 2 at eleven minutes, and 1 at sixteen – and they allow the three lead soloists to really stretch out in a warmly improvisatory manner that surpasses even the easygoing Verve studio sessions of the 50s. Titles include "Satin Doll", "Perdido", and "The Rabbit In Jazz". CD also features Coleman Hawkins Alive At The Village Gate – tracks from the same date, but without Eldridge and Hodges – great long tracks that include "Mack The Knife", "It's The Talk Of The Town", "All The Things You Are", and "Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho".

The title's terrible, but the album's a great one – a really classic-styled jam session, of the sort that the Prestige label hardly ever recorded! The session features 4 tenor giants of slightly older vintage – Eddie Lockjaw Davis, Coleman Hawkins, Arnett Cobb, and Buddy Tate – all coming together in some loosely-structured arrangements that offer the same sympathetic blowing space that you might get from an all-star tenor date on Verve. Rhythm is by a trio with Shirley Scott on organ, George Duvivier on bass, and Art Edgehill on drums – and titles include "Very Saxy", "Fourmost", "Foot Pattin", and "Light & Lovely".

A near-forgotten gem from Coleman Hawkins excellent late 50s period – recorded for the short-lived Felsted label, and done in a beautifully relaxed way! The tracks here are long and easy-going – at times even more open than Hawkins' work for Verve, and in the style he'd explore even more deeply for Prestige on some albums recorded right after this set. Hawk is playing in a quintet with Buck Clayton on trumpet, Hank Jones on piano, Ray Brown on bass, and Mickey Sheen on drums – and titles include "My One & Only Love", "Bird Of Prey Blues", "Get Set", "Ooh Wee Miss GP", "Vignette" and "You've Changed".

A classic from the undisputed master of the swing jazz jam session! Jumpin' At The Woodside has Buck Clayton recreating a Count Basie vibe, but in a much more open-ended, and long-grooving way! Most of the tracks on the record are nice and long – really opening up with a solo-heavy, jam session sort of style – and players shift from track to track, and include Woody Herman on clarinet, Coleman Hawkins on tenor, Al Cohn on tenor, Urbie Green on trombone, and Ruby Braff on trumpet. Titles include "Broadway", "Rock A Bye Basie", "Jumpin At The Woodside", and "Blue & Sentimental".

The sounds are definitely convergent here – very individual strands from all the musicians, but each finding space to come together in a really beautiful way! The album's got a great balance between improvised moments and more compositional impulses – a balance that's not unlike that moment when modern jazz was reaching for new freedoms in the 60s, yet still able to come back to the idea of unified group energy – perhaps a bit like Ornette Coleman in his post-Atlantic years, or the work of the west coast underground. The players really have a great feel for each other – and the quartet features Taylor Ho Bynum on cornet, Alexander Hawkins on piano, Dominic Lash on bass, and Harris Eisenstadt on drums – on titles that include "Assemble/Melancholy", "Remember Raoul", "The Taff End", "Slow & Steady", and "Oat Roe + Three By Three".

Some tracks feature trumpeter Sonny Dunham leading a group with Dick Wilson on tenor, Floyd Smith on guitar, Buddy Miller on alto, and Mary Lou Williams on piano – others feature pianist Joe Sullivan with Coleman Hawkins on tenor and Billy Carton on trumpet.

Nice backing on most tracks by a small combo that features Oscar Peterson on piano and Herb Ellis on guitar – and a larger group on a few more, with Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, and Lester Young on tenors! Titles include "Stompin At The Savoy", "Goody Goody", "Ill Wind", and "Bewitched Bothered & Bewildered".

A great little live set from Von Freeman – and one of his best albums! Like some of his rare few sides from the 70s, this one features Von in a relaxed setting – blowing as the main lead soloist in front of a piano trio recorded at the Dakota Bar & Grill in St Paul, Minnesota, in 1996. Unlike other sets, though, this one really shows the edge that Von can have when he's working at his best. Gone are the easily-blown standards that never really illustrate the genius of Von that's been an influence on decades of players – from Andrew Hill to Malachi Favors to Eric Alexander. Freeman's range on the tenor is incredible – taking in a wealth of influences that runs from Coleman Hawkins to Ben Webster to Coltrane and Wayne Shorter – and while the rhythm section is comprised of younger players from St Paul, Von's the real talent here, and has plenty of room to work. Titles include "Footprints", "Caravan", "Crazy She Calls me", "Blues For Sunnyland", and "Bye Bye Blackbird".

A very unusual concert from Billie Holiday – one that features narration by Gilbert Millstein, telling the story of Billie's life! The format is quite unusual – almost a live documentary, with the subject of the documentary there in person herself! Millstein narrates from the start, and Billie emerges with songs throughout – using Millstein's narration to bracket portions of her career, then delivering the tunes associated with that portion. Backing is by an all-hip group that includes Coleman Hawkins, Kenny Burrell, Chico Hamilton, Roy Eldridge, and Buck Clayton – and titles include "I Cried For You", "My Man", "Don't Explain", "Lady Sings The Blues", "Body & Soul", "I Love My Man", and "Yesterdays".

A massively expanded package of music – filled with previously unreleased gems! The 2CD set features a landmark collaboration between John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk – two generations of jazz modern, working here to create some really incredible music! The core of this material is from the pair's work issued on the amazing Monk's Music album for Riverside – but the expanded collection also features lots of additional work from the same period too – including some unusual and alternate studio moments too! Other players vary from track to track – and include Gigi Gryce on alto sax, Ray Copeland on trumpet, Coleman Hawkins on additional tenor, Wilbur Ware on bass, and Art Blakey on drums. Titles wonderful versions of "Ruby My Dear", "Trinkle Tinkle", "Nutty", "Well You Needn't", "Crepescule With Nellie" and "Monk's Mood" – plus some alternate versions, false starts, and more – all wrapped up with notes and reflections from original producer Orrin Keepnews.

Joe Turner rides again – but in a style that's a bit more like his Kansas City roots than some of the R&B he was cutting for Atlantic Records in the 50s! There's a nice jazz vibe to the record – thanks to sharp arrangements from Ernie Wilkins, who's really coming into his own here – and knows how to serve up just the right blend of modern jazz and swinging soul to make the tunes work! The ensemble is filled with jazz heavyweights too – including Seldon Powell, Coleman Hawkins, Pete Brown, and Jerome Richardson on reeds – plus Ernie Royal on trumpet. But Joe's vocals definitely take center stage – infused with all the heavy power he'd assumed during this seminal comeback decade – still bluesy, but with a lot more punch than before. Titles include "Switchin In The Kitchen", "I Get The Blues When It Rains", "Nobody In Mind", "Don't You Make Me High", and "Here Comes Your Iceman".

Arguably one of the greatest albums ever cut by Jimmy Witherspoon – recorded live at an early Monterey Jazz Festival, and done in a style that shows the strong link between jazz and blues in Jimmy's work! The group on the set includes Ben Webster, Roy Eldridge, Coleman Hawkins, and Woody Herman – and the longish tracks on the set give them all more than enough room to solo alongside Jimmy's bluesy vocals. The album's also one of the first to be produced by a young David Axelrod – and shows a clear respect for both the singer and the musicians, in a combination that would come out even more strongly on Axe's later productions for Capitol. Titles include "No Rollin Blues", "Big Fine Girl", "Good Rockin Tonight", "Ain't Nobody's Business", and "When I Been Drinkin".

Features work by Coleman Hawkins, Nat King Cole, Stan Kenton, Jay McShann, and Benny Carter!

The American take on the sound of bossa nova – a mode that started almost as soon as the first sounds headed north from Rio, and which grew to become a very important contribution to the music in the 60s! We love the originals by Antonio Carlos Jobim, Luis Bonfa, Joao Gilberto, and others – but we also totally dig these American reinterpretations by musicians on Verve, Fantasy, and other hip labels of the 60s – players who really got into the sound of Brazilian rhythms, and used the new groove to unlock some great power in their own solo playing as well! The package mostly features 60s recordings, with a few gems from later years – and titles include "Temanco No Samba" by Cal Tjader, "Samba De Orfeu" by Bob Brookmeyer, "O Morro" by Wes Montgemery, "Samba With Some Barbecue" by Paul Desmond, "Desafinado" by Charlie Byrd, "Um Abraco No Bonfa" by Coleman Hawkins, "Jazz Bossa Nova" by Milt Jackson, "Nana" by Kenny Burrell, "O Grande Amor" by Stan Getz, and "Mas Que Nada" by Hank Jones & Oliver Nelson.

Includes tracks by James P Johnson, Herman Chittison, Joe Venuti & His Orchestra, Benny Carter & His Orchestra, Billy Kyle & His Swing Band, Coleman Hawkins Quartet, Sidney Bechet Quartet, the Gotham Stompers, Muggsy Spanier & His Ragtime Band, Ella Fitzgerald & Her Orchestra, Billie Holiday, and the Three Peppers.

Includes performances by Sidney Bechet, Charlie Parker, Coleman Hawkins, Art Tatum and others.

Includes benny carter, Coleman Hawkins, Jack Hylton, Meade Lux Lewis, Fletcher Henderson, Duke Ellington, Buck Washinton, and Horase Henderson.

A key later album from alto saxophonist Benny Carter – one that has him at the helm of a largeish group, but playing with a nicely focused sort of groove! In addition to Benny's alto, the record also features tenor sax from Charlie Rouse and Coleman Hawkins, plus one more alto from Phil Woods – supported by rhythm from John Collins on guitar, Dick Katz on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Jo Jones on drums. The tunes are traditional, but have some sharper-edged modern ideas on some of the solos – and there's a nicely echoey feel to the production, which further adds to the quality of the record. The album's a bit like a Swingville session for Prestige, but has a bit more going on – and titles include "Doozy", "Blue Star", "Midnight Sun Will Never Set", and "Crazy Rhythm".

A nice live set – put together by Norm Granz, as a tour of the JATP all stars in Europe. The group brings together the hottest jazz stars of the day, and onthis volume itincludes Dizzy gillespie, Cannonball Adderley, JJ Johnson, Coleman Hawkins and Roy Eldridge. There's a great jamming take on "Bernie's Tune" and a sidelong riffing version of "All The Things You Are".

If worktime was like this for us, you'd catch us showing up on the job early every day – but sadly, nothing at our office can match the brilliance of early Sonny Rollins here – a sharp-edged genius that perfectly illustrates why he was one of the greatest players on his horn for many decades running! There's a depth of tone on the record that rivals Coleman Hawkins or Lester Young – but a quickness of pace and imagination that shows a clear influence from Charlie Parker, and a deftness that few were bringing to the tenor at the time. The rhythm section here is super tight – and features Ray Bryant on piano, George Morrow on bass, and Max Roach on drums – all supporting Rollins' bold lead with lines that bristle with electricity, but still often fall back to let the sound of the tenor envelop the whole group. Tracks are longish, and titles include "Raincheck", "There Are Such Things", "Paradox", and "It's All Right With Me".

One of our favorite records from Archie Shepp's "new traditionalism" years – a set of understated brilliance and beauty, and proof that Shepp's tenor could sound every bit as great on the inside of jazz as it did on the out! The group here is a quartet – with Ken Werner on piano, Santie Debriano on bass, and John Betsch on drums – but the real star of the scene is Archie, blowing with a rough-edged tone that's dripping with soul and humanity – definitely "knowing about the life" in the title, and coming through with a timeless quality that makes him stand beautifully alongside older players like Coleman Hawkins, Ben Webster, or Sonny Stitt! Titles include "Well You Needn't", "I Know About The Life", "Giant Steps", and "Round Midnight".

Blearly-eyed bebop, smoky nightclub jazz from the weary hours, and boozy beat sounds from the early 60s on this no frills, but fun compilation – bits by Frosty & The Diamonds, Slim Galliard, Coleman Hawkins, Ada Moore, Moondog, Elle Girl & 7 Beat Sulks, Gil Melle, Kenneth Rexroth and others! It's a diverse roster, but the style flows pretty consistently and and definitely get the mood across! Includes "Destination Mars" by Frosty & The Diamonds, "The Gears" by Gil Melle, "Cockroach" by Jack Kerouac, "Go Go Kitty" by The New Bangs, "Like" by Jack Hammer, "State & 32nd" by Kenneth Rexroth and more. 25 tracks on the CD.

A key later album from alto saxophonist Benny Carter – one that has him at the helm of a largeish group, but playing with a nicely focused sort of groove! In addition to Benny's alto, the record also features tenor sax from Charlie Rouse and Coleman Hawkins, plus one more alto from Phil Woods – supported by rhythm from John Collins on guitar, Dick Katz on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Jo Jones on drums. The tunes are traditional, but have some sharper-edged modern ideas on some of the solos – and there's a nicely echoey feel to the production, which further adds to the quality of the record. The album's a bit like a Swingville session for Prestige, but has a bit more going on – and titles include "Doozy", "Blue Star", "Midnight Sun Will Never Set", and "Crazy Rhythm".

More groundbreaking work, for the time, especially for a studio date! Players include Joe Newman on trumpet, Urbie Green and Henderson Chambers on trombones, Lem Davis on alto, Julian Dash on tenor, Charlie Fowlkes on baritone, Sir Charles Thompson on piano, and Freddie Green on guitar! Additional players on "Jumpin At The Woodside" are Coleman Hawkins, Billy Kyle, and Milt Hinton. Other titles include "How Hi The Fi", "Blue Moon"and "Christopher Columbus".

A key later album from alto saxophonist Benny Carter – one that has him at the helm of a largeish group, but playing with a nicely focused sort of groove! In addition to Benny's alto, the record also features tenor sax from Charlie Rouse and Coleman Hawkins, plus one more alto from Phil Woods – supported by rhythm from John Collins on guitar, Dick Katz on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Jo Jones on drums. The tunes are traditional, but have some sharper-edged modern ideas on some of the solos – and there's a nicely echoey feel to the production, which further adds to the quality of the record. The album's a bit like a Swingville session for Prestige, but has a bit more going on – and titles include "Doozy", "Blue Star", "Midnight Sun Will Never Set", and "Crazy Rhythm".

Great later work from Bud Freeman – blowing here in a comfortable and relaxed setting that really fits the mood of the Swingville imprint – and getting equally great help from a small combo of players that includes Shorty Baker on trumpet, Claude Hopkins on piano, George Duvivier on bass, and JC Heard on drums. The feel is traditional, but never hokey or out of date – and there's some surprising modern currents to the phrasing of Freeman and the rhythms of Heard, almost in the way that Coleman Hawkins and Pee Wee Russell were hipping things up a bit during the same stretch. Titles include "S'posin", "I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart", "March On March On", "Hector's Dance", and "Something To Remember You By".

2 nice live sets – put together by Norm Granz, as a tour of the JATP all stars in Europe. Originally issued separately, but pretty much under the same title, the first LP brings together the hottest jazz stars of the day, and on this volume it includes Dizzy Gillespie, Cannonball Adderley, JJ Johnson, Coleman Hawkins and Roy Eldridge. There's a great jamming take on "Bernie's Tune" and a sidelong riffing version of "All The Things You Are", plus "Swedish Jam". The second album was issued ostensibly as a Dizzy Gillespie performance, but with like the first features some very strong guest stars! The core of the group is Diz's great one from the early 60s – with Lalo Schifrin on piano and Leo Wright on alto and flute, and they're joined by Stan Getz, JJ Johnson, and Candido for this tasty set of three long tracks: "Kush", "The Mooch" and "Wheatleigh Hall".