A killer album from Johnny Richards – possibly the best he ever cut! The album sparkles with all the intensity he brought to Stan Kenton's Cuban Fire album – with bits of Latin, jazz, and some of the modernist scoring that Kenton, Richards, and Pete Rugolo were using at the time. However, the main thing about this album is that it swings like a mo-fo – moving past any tricks and gags to hit a strong jazz mode, with excelelnt solo work by players like Frank Socolow, Gene Quill, and trumpeter Burt Collins. Willie Rodriguez brings some nice Latin percussion to the set – and titles include "Cimarron", "Eyes", "Nipigon", and "The Ballad Of Tappan Zee". LP, Vinyl record album

An unusual record, but a great one too – a set that mixes the offbeat reed work of Roland Kirk with some inventive ideas from a group of young west coast players! Some of the group members are names you'll recognize on their own from genre-crossing sessions for other labels – like vibist Lyn Blessing, and bassist Bill Plummer – both groovy talents whose touches really make the record sparkle – and the rest of the combo features trumpeter Tommy Peltier, drummer Maurice Miller, and reedman Freddy Rodriguez! And honestly, the whole thing's great, even without Kirk's help – but Roland's wit and creative energy really send the album home with work on tenor, flute, and stritch. Titles include "Harplyness", "Chalan Pago", "Le Blessing", and "Meanwhile". CD