Sublime small group work from tenor saxophonist Bill Holman – and a record that really lets him stretch out with some longer-than-usual solo work! Holman's working here as the co-leader with drummer Mel Lewis – in a group that also features trumpeter Lee Katzman, bassist Wilford Middlebrook, and pianist Jimmy Rowles. The head arrangements are quite tight, and remind us a lot of some of Holman's work on charts for larger bands – but as the longish tunes unfold, the solo work is extremely dexterous – and supported wonderfully by some fluid work on piano by Rowles. Titles include Holman's classic "Jive For Five", plus "The Beat Generation", "502 Blues Theme", and "Liza". CD

A wonderful showcase for the arranging talents of Bill Holman – one that steps off with a more straightforward and swinging style than some of his work of the time for the Stan Kenton group! Holman here is in a great mode that bridges the large group styles of the swing years and the changes in big band sounds that would take place in the 60s – and he's almost prefacing the style of the Clarke Boland Big Band by writing charts here that pack a real punch on the ensemble passages, yet which also rely very strongly on breakaway horn solos to tear up the tunes! The strength of the players is a key factor in the success of the album – as soloists include Frank Rosolino, Jack Sheldon, Herb Geller, Richie Kamuca, and Holman himself – on titles that include "Kissin Bug", "You Go To My Head", "Far Down Below", "Aura", "Theme & Variation #2", and "No Heat". CD

Fantastic vocals from this legendary group – produced by the great soul producer Bumps Blackwell, with lots of arrangements from JW Alexander! LP, Vinyl record album

One of the few records cut as a leader by west coast piano legend Jimmy Rowles – and one of the grooviest too! The album's a septet session, one that has Jimmy working with some great horn talents that include Bill Holman on tenor, Herb Geller on alto, Lee Katzman on trumpet, and Bob Enevoldsen on trombone. Arrangements are by Holman and Rowles – in a style that's got some beautifully evocative touches, as on Holman's other work of the time – almost a mixture of Kenton tonal writing with some of the lighter west coast styles of the time – often on familiar tunes, but in a way that really transforms them into sprightly little pictures in sound! Titles include "Heat Wave", "Throwin Stones At The Sun", "When The Sun Comes Out", "Winter Weather", and "Too Hot For Words". CD features 3 alternate takes too! CD