A great large group project from arranger Manny Albam – one that teams him up with "jazz greats" of the east coast scene. Manny's working here with a set of players who are well-chosen for their ability to work strongly in an ensemble, yet also break out with strong solo work when the moment comes – and the lineup includes Gerry Mulligan, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Phil Woods, Bob Brookmeyer, and Art Farmer – with rhythm by the trio of Hank Jones, Milt Hinton, and Osie Johnson. CD

A great 4-part suite that rivals any of Manny Albam's other sessions from the time – including Jazz Greats Of Our Time, or Jazz New York – and, like that one, a set that's filled with top-shelf jazz talents at the time! The tracks here are all quite long, and done in a bluesy mode that gives the album a bit more soul than usual for Albam – and the set features Phil Woods and Gene Quill on altos, Al Cohn on tenor, Art Farmer and Ernie Royal on trumpets, Bob Brookmeyer on trombone, and Eddie Costa on piano. LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful little session from Manny Albam – one that continues the strong tradition of larger group jazz arranging he began in the 60s, but which takes it to an even deeper level! Manny composed the entire set as kind of a "city suite" in jazz – one that paints the picture of many different shades of city life through jazzy solos and a range of deeper tones and colors from the larger ensemble. Players include Frank Wess, Phil Woods, JJ Johnson, Jerome Richardson, and Mike Manieri – all extremely well-suited to an outing like this – and titles include "The Game Of The Year", "Born On Arrival", "The View From The Inside", "El Barrio Latino", "Ground Floor Rear", and "Riverview". LP, Vinyl record album

Hard-swinging big band material – with a heavy emphasis on drums! The album is a suite of six tracks – all written by either Manny Albam or Ernie Wilkins, both of whom arrange the groups on the set – really letting them open up nicely on the album's longish tracks. Manny and Ernie were two of the more soulful arrangers of their day – and they get some strong performances out of the groups, letting players like Conte Candoli on trumpet, Hal McKusick on alto, Al Cohn on tenor, and Freddie Green on guitar open up in longer tracks driven to intensity by some great drum work handled by the lesser-known (but excellent) Ted Sommer. Titles include "Skinning The Valves", "Dancers On Drums", "Bristling", and "The Octopus". CD

Wonderfully baroque funk from the great O'Donel Levy! The album's got some very cool arrangements by Manny Albam that mix together strings and funk – in a super-dope way that sounds a lot like the work coming out of Cadet during the late 60s – and the rest of the set features Levy playing with a smaller group, one that includes Chester Thompson on drums and Charles Covington on organ. The approach is great on both types of sets – complicatedly funky, in a way that's held up incredibly well over the years – and which warrants greater discovery of Levy's work from the time. The album's got covers of "We've Only Just Begun", "Let's Stay Together" and "It's Too Late" – plus some groovy originals like "Cherries", "The Chocolate Horse", "Ideal", and "Breeding of Mind". CD

Fantastic sounds throughout – and maybe the best album ever by this legendary 70s guitar player! O'Donel Levy's got this tremendous sound that comes from playing an electric hollow body – in a tone that takes the best bits of Grant Green and Wes Montgomery, and strips them down for a hipper, badder 70s sort of mode. The album's got some great blackploitation-esque arrangements by Manny Albam, and O'Donel's groove is nice and lean as he snakes over the top of the record in some very soulful solos! Lots of cool grooves, and titles include "Joni", "Nigerian Knights", "Bad, Bad, Simba" and "Sad, Sad, Simba". CD

Fantastic sounds throughout – and maybe the best album ever by this legendary 70s guitar player! O'Donel Levy's got this tremendous sound that comes from playing an electric hollow body – in a tone that takes the best bits of Grant Green and Wes Montgomery, and strips them down for a hipper, badder 70s sort of mode. The album's got some great blackploitation-esque arrangements by Manny Albam, and O'Donel's groove is nice and lean as he snakes over the top of the record in some very soulful solos! Lots of cool grooves, and titles include "Joni", "Nigerian Knights", "Bad, Bad, Simba" and "Sad, Sad, Simba". CD

Fantastic sounds throughout – and maybe the best album ever by this legendary 70s guitar player! O'Donel Levy's got this tremendous sound that comes from playing an electric hollow body – in a tone that takes the best bits of Grant Green and Wes Montgomery, and strips them down for a hipper, badder 70s sort of mode. The album's got some great blackploitation-esque arrangements by Manny Albam, and O'Donel's groove is nice and lean as he snakes over the top of the record in some very soulful solos! Lots of cool grooves, and titles include "Joni", "Nigerian Knights", "Bad, Bad, Simba" and "Sad, Sad, Simba". LP, Vinyl record album

Joe Lovano meets up with band leader Manny Albam for a trip through the Sinatra songbook. Tracks include "Imagination", "In Other Words", "One For My Baby", and "Someone To Watch Over Me". CD

A Basie tribute, but a really smoking one – thanks to some hard swinging arrangements from Manny Albam, and plenty of heavy Hammond from the great Jimmy McGriff! The tracks are mostly numbers from the Count Basie songbook of the 50s and 60s, but they're strongly reworked here with a swinging 60s vibe – played with lots of strong horn work in the background, all used as a perfect foil for Jimmy's leaner organ solos over the top! The style's quite similar to other big band organ work of the time – particularly records made by Jimmy Smith in collaboration with Oliver Nelson, or Jack McDuff with Benny Golson – and McGriff's organ comes through nice and clean in the mix, with that sharply fluttering sound that really made him one of the true standouts of the 60s. Titles include "Hob Nail Boogie", "Cute", "Every Day", "Blues Go Away", and "Slow But Sure". CD

A key recording in the 50s career of modernist Hal McKusick – a spare and breezy session that really lets him display his unique approach to the alto sax! Hal's playing here in a very spare quartet – with only the guitar of Barry Galbraith, bass of Osie Johnson, and drums of Milt Hinton to back him up – so spare, in fact, that at times, it almost sounds like McKusick is blowing solo – working in that crisp, fresh tone of his on a few familiar numbers, plus some great Manny Albam compositions that have a playfully modern feel. Titles include "Minor Matters", "Give Em Hal", "By-Ian", "Blue-Who", and "Taylor Made". CD

An early gem from singer Freda Payne – recorded back in the days when she was a jazz vocalist, years before her famous hits as a soul artist in the early 70s! The album's a darkly-tinged session with arrangements by Manny Albam – done in the late nite mode that you'd expect from the title, and featuring the kind of sad songs that you'd hear on an album from the time by Lorez Alexandria. The highlight of the album is a great vocal reading of Ornette Coleman's "Lonely Woman" – and other tracks include "Out Of This World", "Sweet September", "Blue Piano", and "After The Lights Go Down Low". LP, Vinyl record album

Of course it's about time for Joe Morello – because as Dave Brubeck's drummer, he was constantly caught in recording sessions that were all about unusual rhythms and timings in jazz! Yet this set really helps Joe break free from the Brubeck mode – and also shine strongly as a leader, too – something he only did on a rare few records over the years! The approach is a bit more straight ahead – almost an extension of the RCA large ensemble sides of the 50s, with arrangements by Phil Woods and Manny Albam – yet there's also some great 60s touches too, thanks to work from a young Gary Burton on vibes, and some nicely mature solos by Woods on alto. Titles include "Time After Time", "Summertime", "Every Time", "It's About Time", and "Fatha Time". LP, Vinyl record album

A really great little live jazz date from the mid 50s – one that features a unique pairing of east and west coast players, working together as part of a Birdland Stars package tour! The group's an exceptionally balanced one – with players who are all strong enough to work together seamlessly, but who each bring together something different to the date – especially in the blend of west coast cool and east coast hot that comes up during some of the horn passages! Trumpets are by Kenny Dorham and Conte Candoli, tenor by Al Cohn, alto by Phil Woods, piano by Hank Jones, bass by John Simmons, and drums by Kenny Clarke – and with a balance like that, there's probably a bit more "east" than "west" on the set – but that's ok with us! The style is similar to some of the RCA work cut by Cohn or Woods, but a lot more open overall – tracks that are looser and less arranged, with some really great room for solos. CD features volumes 1 and 2 of the albums – 14 titles that include "Phil Er Up", "Roulette", "Last Lap", "Hip Boots", "For Kicks Only", "Playboy", "Ah Funky New Baby", Birdland Fantasy", and "Minorin The Blues". Tracks are all originals by Manny Albam and Ernie Wilkins! CD

A very unique album by Curtis Fuller – quite different than any of his other records at the time! The session has Curtis blowing on tunes from the score to Cabin In The Sky – arranged by Manny Albam, and performed by a large group that includes Freddy Hubbard, Hank Jones, and Bob Brookmeyer. Far from the snoozy outing that you might guess from the title, the album's actually a deeply spiritual album that has Fuller playing in warm rich tones that he rarely achieves elsewhere. The backing is sensitive, and doesn't get in the way – and instead creates a magical pillow of sound that allows Fuller to craft these warm and sweet notes that are really wonderful. Titles include "The Prayer", "Savannah", "Love Turned The Light Out", and "Love Me Tomorrow". LP, Vinyl record album

An RCA classic from Lurlean Hunter – a singer who's sadly overlooked these days, but who was a real up-and-comer from the Chicago scene in the 50s! Lurlean's got a style that's surprisingly smooth at times – much richer and more jazz-based than the sometimes-bluesy cover images she was given – a quality that sounds especially great here amidst fuller backings from Manny Albam, an arranger who really helps Hunter cross over strongly for the set. The record's beautifully done – poised, but still filled with soul and feeling – and players on the date include Joe Newman on trumpet, Al Cohn on tenor, and Barry Galbraith on guitar. Titles include some lesser-known numbers like "Moondrift" and "Night Life" – plus "Gentleman Friend", "What A Difference A Day Makes", "Have You Met Miss Jones", "Sunday", and "This Time The Dream's On Me". CD

A very cool concept for an album by pianist Hank Jones – and one with a sound that's a lot more classic than you might expect from the date of the set! The core rhythms come from a trio that includes Jones on piano, Rufus Reid on bass, and Dennis Mackrel on drums – and they're augmented by a string quartet directed by Manny Albam – but in a way that uses all the older Albam sense of groove and grace! The sound here is hardly any sort of sleepy "with strings" sort of mode – and the quartet bring in some nicely dark corners that offset the sweeter, more lyrical sounds of Jones' piano – in a way that makes the album one of the most compelling dates we've heard from Hank in this stretch of his career. The best tunes are the most upbeat ones, but even the mellower numbers are great – and the CD features titles that include "What Is This Thing Called Love", "Caravan", "Ill Wind", "They Can't Take That Away From Me", "Love Walked In", "Softly As In A Morning Sunrise", "There's A Small Hotel", and "Russian Lullaby". CD

A Basie tribute, but a really smoking one – thanks to some hard swinging arrangements from Manny Albam, and plenty of heavy Hammond from the great Jimmy McGriff! The tracks are mostly numbers from the Count Basie songbook of the 50s and 60s, but they're strongly reworked here with a swinging 60s vibe – played with lots of strong horn work in the background, all used as a perfect foil for Jimmy's leaner organ solos over the top! The style's quite similar to other big band organ work of the time – particularly records made by Jimmy Smith in collaboration with Oliver Nelson, or Jack McDuff with Benny Golson – and McGriff's organ comes through nice and clean in the mix, with that sharply fluttering sound that really made him one of the true standouts of the 60s. Titles include "Hob Nail Boogie", "Cute", "Every Day", "Blues Go Away", and "Slow But Sure". LP, Vinyl record album

Oscar Peterson pays tribute to the late Nat King Cole – not only on piano, but also with a bit of vocals as well! Given how rarely Oscar sings on record, the album's a real treat – especially as his vocals capture the spirit of Cole surprisingly well – not exactly like Nat, but with the same mix of soul, swing, and class! Half the album features Peterson in trio formation – with Herb Ellis on guitar and Ray Brown on bass – in a way that recreates the King Cole Trio sound. Other tracks feature fuller backings from Manny Albam – nice and jazzy, in the style that Nat used during the 50s at Capitol! Titles are all Cole favorites – and include "Little Girl", "Unforgettable", "What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry", "Easy Listening Blues", "Walkin My Baby Back Home", and "It's Only A Paper Moon". CD

Oscar Peterson pays tribute to the late Nat King Cole – not only on piano, but also with a bit of vocals as well! Given how rarely Oscar sings on record, the album's a real treat – especially as his vocals capture the spirit of Cole surprisingly well – not exactly like Nat, but with the same mix of soul, swing, and class! Half the album features Peterson in trio formation – with Herb Ellis on guitar and Ray Brown on bass – in a way that recreates the King Cole Trio sound. Other tracks feature fuller backings from Manny Albam – nice and jazzy, in the style that Nat used during the 50s at Capitol! Titles are all Cole favorites – and include "Little Girl", "Unforgettable", "What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry", "Easy Listening Blues", "Walkin My Baby Back Home", and "It's Only A Paper Moon". LP, Vinyl record album

How many different iterations of the "Four Brothers" were there? We don't know, but as near as we can tell, this grouping might most resemble the "original", with four West coast heavies joining forces for a swinging side. Originally making up the sax section of Woody Herman's Thundering Herd, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Herbie Steward and Serge Chaloff are the brothers, and they're joined by fellow Herman alum Buddy Jones, plus Elliot Lawrence and Don Lamond in the rhythm section on this side for Vik. As you'd expect, the numbers are all West coast gems, by the likes of Cohn, Sims, Jimmy Giuffre, Gerry Mulligan and Manny Albam amongst others, and featuring the brothers blowing in a remarkably spry manner for such a heavyweight lineup. 10 tracks in all: "Four And One More", "So Blue", "The Swinging Door", 'Four In Hand", "A Quick One", 'Four Brothers", "Ten Years Later", "The Pretty One", "Aged In Wood" and "Here We Go Again". CD

Well, Hawk isn't really in Paris on this one – as the album was recorded in New York, with backings by Manny Albam – but the spirit of Paris is very much alive on the tunes, which are a mixture of postwar French favorites, and others that have a similar sound. Albam's backings are light and gentle, and Hawkins tenor dominates all tracks, blowing easily and soulfully on well-placed solos. Titles include "La Chnouf", "April In Paris", "Mon Homme", "Under Paris Skies", "I Love Paris", and "La Mer". CD

Not really the soundtrack for the movie – but a sweet batch of tracks that feature the lovely Dionne Warwick singing the title tune – and stretching out on a host of other great 60s numbers too! The album was recorded in two different sessions, mostly with backings by Burt Bacharach – who always makes his own music sound great – with a bit of extra help from Pat Williams, Manny Albam, and Garry Sherman – who each get a tune to work with. Gone is the dreamy optimism of some of Dionne's earlier albums – and in its place is a more mature, slightly sadder style that's really great. Titles include "Valley Of The Dolls", "For The Rest Of My Life", "Do You Know The Way To San Jose", "Silent Voices", "Let Me Be Lonely", "You're My World", "Where Would I Go", and "Walking Backwards Down The Road". LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Vince Giordano & the Nighthawks, Artie Shaw & his Orchestra, Lennie Hayton & his Orchestra, Sonny Rollins, Shorty Rogers & his Giants, Frank Sinatra, Irving Aaronson & his Commanders, Roy Rogers, Dinah Shore, Manny Albam & his Orchestra, Ray Noble & his Orchestra, Lennie Hayton & his Orchestra, Leo Reisman & his Orchestra, Paul Desmond, Tommy Dorsey & his Orchestra, Leo Reisman & his Orchestra, Perez Prado & his Orchestra, and Esquivel & his Orchestra. CD