Great long jam session tracks – pulled from the albums Coleman Hawkins/Things Ain't What They Used To Be and Coleman Hawkins/Years Ago. Features Coleman Hawkins and Al Sears on tenor, Jimmy Hamilton on clarinet, Hilton Jefferson on alto, and Joe Thomas and Joe Newman on trumpets. LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful blowing from Buck Clayton and Buddy Tate – captured here in the relaxed, easy-going setting of the Swingville label! The album's got a lot more charm than some of Clayton's sides for Columbia – a bit more mellow, with the kind of after hours feel that lets players like these show their strongest suits on their instruments. Clayton plays trumpet, Tate tenor – and rhythm is from the trio of Sir Charles Thompson on piano, Gene Ramey on bass, and Mousie Alexander on drums. Titles include "High Life", "Birdland Betty", "Can't We Be Friends", and "Kansas City Nights". CD

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A great example of why the Swingville label was such a great idea – a perfect setting for older players to have a chance to relax in the studio and really do their thing – hitting the sort of notes they might reach in a late-nite set at a club, without all the pressures to try for a crossover hit or short takes on overdone standards! The tracks here are all quite long – surpassing even Verve material of this nature – and Carter plays both alto and trumpet, Webster his classic tenor, and Bigard clarinet – in a group that also includes Shorty Sherock on trumpet, Jimmy Rowles on piano, and Dave Barbour on guitar. Rhythm's from Leroy Vinnegar on bass and Mel Lewis on drums – so that part of the equation is rock-solid too – and titles include "Opening Blues", "Lula", "When Lights Are Low", and "You Can't Tell The Difference When The Sun Goes Down Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

A 2-fer set from the 70s – with 2 great older albums from Buck & Buddy! First up is the self-titled Buck & Buddy – beautiful blowing from Buck Clayton and Buddy Tate – captured here in the relaxed, easy-going setting of the Swingville label! The album's got a lot more charm than some of Clayton's sides for Columbia – a bit more mellow, with the kind of after hours feel that lets players like these show their strongest suits on their instruments. Clayton plays trumpet, Tate tenor – and rhythm is from the trio of Sir Charles Thompson on piano, Gene Ramey on bass, and Mousie Alexander on drums. Titles include "High Life", "Birdland Betty", "Can't We Be Friends", and "Kansas City Nights". Next Is Buck & Buddy Blow The Blues – a romping little session from Buck Clayton and Buddy Tate – served up in a looser, more relaxed setting than the former's albums for Columbia, and a slightly more swing-based mode than the latter's dates for Chess! Both horn players get plenty of room to solo in the open-ended Swingville mode – Buck on trumpet and Buddy on both tenor and clarinet – and the group's a nice one too, since Sir Charles Thompson's playing piano, Gene Ramey's on bass, and Gus Johnson's on drums. Titles include "Blue Creek", "Blue Breeze", "Blue Ebony", "Rompin At Red Bank", and "Dallas Delight". LP, Vinyl record album

Joe blows it strong and mellow – in this spare swinging group that includes Frank Wess on tenor, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Eddie Jones on bass, and Oliver Jackson on drums. Tracks are warm and unpressured, more in a Verve mode than a Prestige one – and titles include "Wednesday's Blues", "Jive At Five", "Taps Miller", and "Cuein The Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Beautiful late work from Coleman Hawkins – mellow genius that wins us over time and time again over the years! The set's actually a twin-tenor outing – with both Hawk and Eddie Jockjaw Davis – the latter of whom, as proved with Johnny Griffin and others, is a perfect partner for any other player on his horn – one able to slide in just the right way, augmenting things and adding his voice while never overdoing it. Given the long tracks on the record, and the very easygoing rhythms from Tommy Flanagan on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Gus Johnson on drums – you've got a cracker of a record, and one that yeilds more and more upon each new listen! Titles include "There Is No Greater Love", "Night Hawk", "In A Mellow Tone", and "Pedalin". CD

Tight swing-based material from trumpeter Joe Newman, featuring Frank Foster as a very welcome bandmate in the frontline! The rest of the group includes Tommy Flanagan on piano, plus Eddie Jones on bass and Bill English on drums. The tracks have a nice open-ended quality, with good room for grooving and solos, and lots of nice tenor from Foster. Titles include "To Rigmor", "AM Romp", "Mo Lasses", and "Loop D Loop". LP, Vinyl record album

A romping little session from Buck Clayton and Buddy Tate – served up in a looser, more relaxed setting than the former's albums for Columbia, and a slightly more swing-based mode than the latter's dates for Chess! Both horn players get plenty of room to solo in the open-ended Swingville mode – Buck on trumpet and Buddy on both tenor and clarinet – and the group's a nice one too, since Sir Charles Thompson's playing piano, Gene Ramey's on bass, and Gus Johnson's on drums. Titles include "Blue Creek", "Blue Breeze", "Blue Ebony", "Rompin At Red Bank", and "Dallas Delight". CD

Great small group material from these key revival years of Pee Wee Russell's career – a time when he was a dedicated modernist, even in a trad setting! Players include Buck Clayton on trumpet, Tommy Flanagan on piano, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Osie Johnson on drums. LP, Vinyl record album

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". LP, Vinyl record album

Featuring special material by all-star groups that feature Al Sears, Coleman Hawkins, and Buddy Tate on tenor – plus Hilton Jefferson on alto, Jimmy Hamilton and Pee Wee Russell on clarinet, Tiny Grimes on guitar, and Joe Newman on trumpet! LP, Vinyl record album

A big tone and a round bottom – Al Sears could always deliver the goods in any kind of setting, but sounds especially nice in this rare small group date with a keen focus on his wonderful tenor sax! The session's one of our favorite in the short-lived Swingville offshoot of Prestige – and is a perfect illustration why the label's format worked so well – taking Sears out of his more familiar large group setting (especially with Ellington), and setting him up in a late nite, laidback sort of mode! Other players here include Don Abney on piano, Wally Richardson on guitar, Wendell Marshall on bass, and Joe Marshall on drums – all grooving nicely, but letting Al get plenty of solo room in the spotlight! Tunes include "Moving Out", "Record Hop", "Take Off Road, " Already Alright", "In A Mellow Tone", "Out Of Nowhere", "Ain't No Use", and "The Thrill Is Gone". 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". CD also features a full bonus album – the record Additions To Further Definitions! CD

The title tells the tale on this one – as the session's a studio meeting of players all associated with Count Basie over the years – captured here in a style that's much more laidback and relaxed than the usual Basie set! The album's got the feel of some of Prestige's best work in the Swingville series, but also has an approach that's almost in the blowing session mode – with long tracks on the album that really let each player step out in their own voice. The lineup includes Paul Quinichette on tenor, Buck Clayton and Shad Collins on trumpet, Jack Washington on baritone sax, Nat Pierce on piano, Freddie Greene on guitar, and Jo Jones on drums – and titles include "Blues I Love To Hear", "Love Jumped Out", "John's Idea", and "Baby Don't Tell On Me". 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". LP, Vinyl record album

A late 60s set, but one that recalls the sweet swinging style of Prestige Records' Swingville sessions from the early part of the decade! Illinois Jacquet sounds wonderful here on tenor (and a bit of bassoon on one track!) – blowing with plenty of open space amidst a lineup that includes Tiny Grimes on guitar, Wynton Kelly on piano, Buster Williams on bass, and Oliver Jackson on drums. The approach is kind of a mix of Jacquet's mid 60s work for Argo/Cadet, with some of the late 50s non-bop swing sessions issued by Prestige – and titles include "The Galloping Latin", "Still King", "For Once In My Life", and "Every Day". LP, Vinyl record album

The title tells the tale on this one – as the session's a studio meeting of players all associated with Count Basie over the years – captured here in a style that's much more laidback and relaxed than the usual Basie set! Originally issued as 2 separate LPs a year apart, and both have the feel of Prestige's best work in the Swingville series. The set has an approach more in the blowing session mode, with long tracks on the album that really let each player step out in their own voice. Players include Paul Quinichette, Shad Collins, Buck Clayton, Jack Washington, Nat Pierce, Freddie Greene, Walter Page, Eddie Jones and Jo Jones. 10 numbers in all including "Rock-A-Bye Basie", "Texas Shuffle", "Out The Window", "Jive At Five", "Diggin' For Dex", "Blues I Love To Hear", "Love Jumped Out", "John's Idea", "Roseland Shuffle" and "Baby Don't Tell On Me". LP, Vinyl record album