Matt Dennis is best-known to most as the composer of the classic evergreen "Angel Eyes" – but he's also a pretty great singer and piano player, with an easy and hip style that's a lot like Bobby Troup. This album's one of the few he ever cut in this mode – and is a great small group session with backing from guitar, bass, and drums – done in a gentle groove that has some cocktail touches, but which also shares a fragileness with the vocal work of Chet Baker – quite unusual for a male singer of the time! The set list is filled with great original tunes as well – making for a set that sounds quite fresh, especially when compared to the average RCA vocal jazz session of the time. Titles include "Bless You Little Sleepyhead", "That's How Close I Want To Be To You", "Show Me The Way To Get Out Of This World", "Devil Talk", "Old Uncle Fud", "The Land Of Danger", and "Relax". CD

The genius of Betty Carter knows no bounds – and this album's a perfect illustration of that fact! The record is one of the few that Betty released on her own label – working in near obscurity at a time when she really wanted to break from the BS of the bigger companies, and the staid approach they were using towards vocal jazz. This set is one of Betty's most freewheeling – performed with trio lineups that include players like Onaje Alan Gumbs, Buster Williams, and Louis Hayes – really stretching things out past the simple "piano trio meets standards with singer" that you might hear on other records. The best illustration of the style is the amazing track "Sounds" – a 7 minute workout that has the trio and Betty cutting loose, taking jazz vocals a million miles past Ella or Billie or any other singer. Most other tracks are originals – and beautiful ones too – and titles include "What Is It", "I Can't Help It", "We Tried", "Happy", and "Tight". CD