Some of the first bop sides cut by Americans in Paris – a quartet of material from four different sessions, issued properly for the first time on CD, with great mastering, and a good set of notes in French and English! Don Byas is at the forefront of two sessions here – one with the Tyree Glenn Orchestra, the other featuring the Don Byas Ree-Boppers – and tracks on those include "Walking Around", "Red Cross", "Cement Mixer", "Mad Monk", "Billie's Bounce", and "The Hour Of Parting". Howard McGhee is next up – with 7 tracks from a rare 1948 session, and titles that include "Big Will", "Donna Lee", "Nicole", "Denise", and "Punkins". Last up are four tunes by James Moody – cut during the prime of his early bop years, in 1949, and done with a nicely modern edge. Titles include "Verso", "Recto", "Oh Well", and "Convulsions". 23 tracks in all! CD

A stone cooker from organist Don Patterson – and one of his best fuller group recordings for Prestige from the 60s! Patterson is best known for his work on the label with his trio that included guitarist Pat Martino and drummer Billy James – and while that unit is intact here, they're also augmented by Howard McGhee on trumpet and Charles McPherson on alto – for a rich, full sound that adds a bit of hardbop into Patterson's normally soul jazz focus. The tracks are all nice and long, and filled with a deeper set of colors and tunes than usual for Don. Titles include "Pisces Soul", "Island Fantasy", and "Donna Lee". CD