A trio of wonderful tenorists – each of them important players on their respective local scenes – coming together tremendously here in an all-star set! Tracks are often long, and really allow each individual plenty of personal expression on their solos – and although Edwards was getting some good time on record at this point in his career, the set's maybe even more special for the way it presents both Buck Hill and Von Freeman – each of whom is great. Backing is by the trio of Rein De Graaff on piano, Koos Serierse on bass, and Eric Ineke on drums – and titles include "Perdido/Wahoo", "Red Top", "I Can't Get Started", "Out Of Nowhere", "Loverman", and "Old Folks". CD

Damn great tenor work from Buck Hill – recording here in a well-matched combo that also features the great Johnny Coles on trumpet! Coles' sound is really nice at this point in his career – a bit more biting and human than the polish of some previous sides – in ways that sound especially great when he's wailing in the frontline next to Hill's raspy tenor. The rhythm section has plenty of life too – Barry Harris on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums – and producer Houston Person brought a nice sense of "room" to the session, recording these guys in ways that beautifully showcase their collaborative presence. Titles include "Brakes", "Wip Wap", "Someone Like That In Your Life", "RH Blues", and "You Don't Know What Love Is". CD

Beautiful tenor work from Buck Hill – an under-acknowledged genius who finally got his chance to reach a larger audience with a handful of Muse Records releases like this one! Hill's a player with a great deal of feeling – a tone that stretches back to Coleman Hawkins in his best later years, schooled with some of the soul of Stanley Turrentine, but delivered with a warm, rich sound that's all Buck's own – the kind of overlooked tenor talents that would grab your ears from the back of a bar, even if you weren't already hip to the player! Buck's working here with a familiar combo that includes Jon Ozmont on piano, Carroll Dashiell on bass, and Warren Schadd on drums – and he also delivers some surprisingly great original tunes on the set – the titles "Blue Hill", "Mitzi", "Lullaby Of Loosdrecht", "Bossa For Sax", and "Blues In Five For Four Or More". Other titles include "But Beautiful", "I Want To Be Happy", and "Warm Vally". CD

Some of the greatest work ever recorded by tenorist Buck Hill – a local player on the DC scene, and one who hardly ever got his due on record! We'd rank Buck right up there with Von Freeman – another local player who spent years honing his tenor sound in a local setting, yet who never got the right sort of fame because he kept away from the New York or LA scenes. And here, Hill's got an incredibly timeless sound in his horn – really deep, beautiful, and undeniably soulful – a sense of raspy tone that goes back to Lester Young or Ben Webster, but a freer, more open sense of swing too – brought out nicely by rhythm work from Reuben Brown on piano, Wilbur Little on bass, and Billy Hart on drums. This set features the second half of a great live European performance from 1981 – with titles that include "Alone Together", "Impressions", and "Penn Station". CD

With Jerry Jones on drums. CD

A cooker from DC tenorist Buck Hill – one of those great local players who never got their due strongly until late in life! Buck's got a tremendous sound on his horn – full and rich in feeling, with occasional raspy edges that really grab us, and a warm command of his instrument that really belies his many decades in music. Yet Buck's also not just blowing familiar notes, either – and, like Von Freeman out of Chicago, he's a dedicatedly creative player who keeps things on edge throughout the set, even in familiar territory. The approach is a bit like that of Ben Webster late in life, but sharper overall – and the group on the date includes Barry Harris on piano, Ray Drummond on bass, and Freddie Waits on drums. Titles include "Jazz Ballad", "Tenor Madness", "On The Trail", "Hail To The Redskins",a nd "Chelsea Bridge". CD also features the bonus track "Vierd Blues". CD

A sweet batch of gentle tunes from guitarist Charlie Byrd – one of his first albums as a leader, recorded in his hometown of Washington DC, with backings by a small woodwind group. A few tracks have some strong solos by tenorist Buck Hill – an under-recorded DC player – and a few more feature vocals by Byrd's wife, Ginny Byrd. Titles include "Keter's Dirty Blues", "Love Letters", "Cross Your Heart", "Swing 59", "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To", and "You're A Sweetheart". CD

A great document of a really unique slice of 50s jazz – the trad-based jam session recordings led by Buck Clayton in 1953 and 1954! The sessions were originally recorded for Columbia Records by John Hammond – and done in a style that wanted to break from the tighter jam session mode used over at Verve. Clayton was the ostensible leader, but Hammond really directed the sessions – using the famous trumpeter in conjunction with players that included Joe Newman, Urbie Green, Sir Charles Thompson, Joe Thomas, Al Cohn, Jo Jones, and others – all in a mode that had a rougher, more "on the spot" sort of feel. The set brings together 19 tracks on 3CDs – all much longer than usual for the time, especially for Clayton's recordings – and featuring titles that include "Moten Swing", "How Hi The Fi", "Blue Moon", "Lean Baby", "Robbin's Nest", "Undecided", "Blue Lou", and "All The Cats Join In". CD

A well-done set, and one that stretches from the pre-Verve years of these groupings, to the big run when they were starting to really shine on record! The first half features mid 40s material – with performances from Illinois Jacquet, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Flip Phillips, and Jack McVea on tenors – plus Willie Smith on alto, Buck Clayton and Shorty Sherock on trumpets, JJ Johnson on trombone, Nat King Cole on piano, and Les Paul on guitar. The second half features early 50s material, including three long ballad medley tracks – with performances from Benny Carter and Willie Smith on altos, Oscar Peterson on piano, Dizzy Gillespie and Roy Eldridge on trumpets, and Ben Webster, Lester Young, and Flip Phillips on tenors! LP, Vinyl record album

Features JC Heard, Buck Clayton, Lee Young, Charlie Parker, Buddy Rich, Flip Phillips, Hank Jones, Lester Young, Gene Krupa, and others. CD

Notable sidemen include Trummy Young on trombone, Buck Clayton on trumpet, Illinois Jacquet and Flip Phillips on tenor, and Buddy Rich on drums. CD

A strong showcase for young Nat Adderley's talents on cornet – and an album that's got a different feel that his work with his more famous brother's combo at the same time! The style here is simple – Nat blowing with 2 different quartets – one with Joe Zawinul on piano, Sam Jones on bass, and Louis Hayes on drums (all from Cannonball's group) – the other with the rhythm section of Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on drums. Despite's Nat's reputation as a gutbuckety soul jazz player, he actually gets in some nicely lyrical licks in this set – blowing in a soulful modern style that almost recalls the work of Carmell Jones at times! Titles include "Chloe", "Images", "Scotch & Water", and "Naturally". CD

One of Lee Morgan's first-ever recordings as a leader, cut way back when he was just a hip teenager from Philly with a bucketful of promise on the trumpet! The session's a crack hard bop date – with an all-star cast that includes Hank Mobley on tenor, Hank Jones on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Art Taylor on drums – and although the proceedings are a bit rough around the edges compared to some of the Blue Note sets, the album's still filled with a heck of a lot of fire, and like all Morgan albums, is totally worth owning! Tracks are longish, and filled with imagination – and titles include "Bet", "Hank's Shout", "Nostalgia", "That's All", and "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise". CD

Louis Armstrong's opening night set at the first ever Monterey Jazz Festival – recordings now released for the first time ever – a walloping batch of trad jazz perfection from the inimitable Satchmo! The sound quality here is impeccable, and so are the players – including Trummy Young on trombone and vocals, Peanuts Hucko on clarinet, Mort Herbert on bass, Danny Barcelona on drums and occasion vocals from Velma Middleton. Loads of great tunes – with Louis rolling back and forth from avuncular vocals to his heavy trumpet. 18 tracks in all: Includes in intro by the Dizzy Gillespie, plus "When It's Sleepy Down South", "Blueberry Hill", "Tiger Rag", "Now You Has Jazz", "High Society Calypso", "Bucket's Got A Hole In It", "Autumn Leaves", "After You've Gone", "Stompin' At The Savoy", "Undecided", "When The Saints Go Marching In" and more. CD

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", and "You've Changed". Added to that set are 3 bonus tracks from the Verve album Coleman Hawkins & Confreres – featuring a group with Roy Eldridge, on the titles "Hanid", "Honey Flower", and "Nabob". And last up are 2 more live recordings from a show in New York at the Phytian Temple – MC'd by All Jazzbo Collins, and featuring a solo performance of "Foolin Around", plus a take on "The Man I Love", played by a group with Hank Jones. CD

One of Lee Morgan's first-ever recordings as a leader, cut way back when he was just a hip teenager from Philly with a bucketful of promise on the trumpet! The session's a crack hard bop date – with an all-star cast that includes Hank Mobley on tenor, Hank Jones on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Art Taylor on drums – and although the proceedings are a bit rough around the edges compared to some of the Blue Note sets, the album's still filled with a heck of a lot of fire, and like all Morgan albums, is totally worth owning! Tracks are longish, and filled with imagination – and titles include "Bet", "Hank's Shout", "Nostalgia", "That's All", and "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise". 70s pressing of the sessions – with the previously unissued track "A-1"! LP, Vinyl record album

Teddy's not the only star of the show – as the album also features work by Flip Phillips on tenor and Buck Clayton on trumpet! LP, Vinyl record album

Two long jam session performances – one with Roy Eldridge on trumpet and Flip Phillips and Lester Young on tenors – on "Lester Leaps In", "The Closer", and "Embraceable You". The other features Willie Smith on alto, Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young on tenor, and Buck Clayton on trumpet – on "JATP Blues". LP, Vinyl record album