A nice session of west coast soul jazz – and one that has Les McCann fronting the soulful group of Gerald Wilson. Les sings on a few tracks, but these are mostly sleepy covers of bluesy standards – like "Please Send Me Someone To Love" and "Since I Fell For You". The nicer cuts have Les' piano out front, playing instrumentally on nice originals like "Someone Stole My Chittlins", "Nairobi Nights", and "Lavande". LP, Vinyl record album

One of Gerald Wilson's hippest albums for World Pacific – and all of them are pretty darn hip! This set is one of Gerald's last for the label – cut in a run of very successful, and very strong big band soul jazz albums that brought together the cream of the crop of the LA underground. Like the other sets, this one's got a great lineup – with players that include Anthony Ortega, Hadley Caliman, Harold Land, Ernie Watts, and Bobby Hutcherson – but the real strength of the album lies with Groove Holmes, who cuts some pretty fantastic solos on the album's best tracks – bubbling his Hammond through the larger arrangements with the space and expression that Wilson allowed his individual players on these sessions. Titles include great versions of "Aquarius" and Coltrane's "Equinox" – plus the original tunes "Celestial Soul", "Scorpio Rising", "Pisces", and "Bluesnee". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the hippest of Gerald Wilson's recordings for Pacific Jazz in the 60s – an excellent live session with a very groovy edge! Wilson's studio work for the label at the time was great enough, but somehow, hearing his group working live, we get a new appreciation of his genius – as the tunes unfold with a soulful depth that goes farther than the studio versions, really grooving with great solo work by Harold Land and Hadley Caliman on saxes, Charles Tolliver on trumpet, Jack Wilson on organ, and Phil Moore on piano! Titles include a great version of Tolliver's "Paper Man" – really showing the growing soulful sound of the group – plus the tracks "Viva Tirado", "Blues For A Scorpio", "Lil Darlin", and "The It's Where It's At". LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal moment on the west coast scene of the 60s – a record that has the great Gerald Wilson pulling together some of the best elements that were going on at the time, and also pointing the way towards changes to come in the future! The set's not the first effort by Wilson on record, but it's maybe one of his most classic – and begins with superb selection of members for the ensemble – a lineup that includes Carmell Jones on trumpet, Lou Blackburn on trombone, Teddy Edwards and Harold Land on tenors, Joe Pass on guitar, and the great Jack Wilson on piano! But key to the set are the rhythms – with the wonderful bassist Jimmy Bond setting up a groove that seems to pull out the best from drummer Mel Lewis – as the pair help ground the larger group with a rock-solid groove that keeps things soulful throughout! Nearly every track's an original, and the album includes Wilson's killer track "Viva Tirado" – a tight jazzy stepper that was covered by many artists over the years, most famously El Chicano – with a Latin-tinged groove that really opens up a new sound in Los Angeles jazz! There's lots of other great cuts too – including "Moment of Truth", "Latino", "Josefina", and "Patterns". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Great little collection from Wilson's Pacific Jazz albums featuring the likes of Joe Pass, Leroy Vinnegar, Roy Ayers, Richard Groove Holmes, and Harold Land! 16 tracks total including "Jeri", "Viva Torado", "Moody Blue", "Paco", "Lighthouse Blues", and "The Serpent". CD

Late great work from the mighty Gerald Wilson – done with a slightly different groove than his 60s sides! The group features Harold Land Jr on electric piano – plus Bobby Bryant on trumpet, Oscar Brashear on trumpet and flugelhorn, Garnett Brown and Thurman Green on trombones, Harold Land and Ernie Watts on tenor and flute, and Mike Wofford on Mason Hamlin BB piano! Tracks are long, and titles include "Lomelin", "Ay Ee En", "Blues For Zubin", "You Know", and "Triple Chase". LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal moment on the west coast scene of the 60s – a record that has the great Gerald Wilson pulling together some of the best elements that were going on at the time, and also pointing the way towards changes to come in the future! The set's not the first effort by Wilson on record, but it's maybe one of his most classic – and begins with superb selection of members for the ensemble – a lineup that includes Carmell Jones on trumpet, Lou Blackburn on trombone, Teddy Edwards and Harold Land on tenors, Joe Pass on guitar, and the great Jack Wilson on piano! But key to the set are the rhythms – with the wonderful bassist Jimmy Bond setting up a groove that seems to pull out the best from drummer Mel Lewis – as the pair help ground the larger group with a rock-solid groove that keeps things soulful throughout! Nearly every track's an original, and the album includes Wilson's killer track "Viva Tirado" – a tight jazzy stepper that was covered by many artists over the years, most famously El Chicano – with a Latin-tinged groove that really opens up a new sound in Los Angeles jazz! There's lots of other great cuts too – including "Moment of Truth", "Latino", "Josefina", and "Patterns". LP, Vinyl record album

2 of the greatest artists on Pacific Jazz meet head to head in the studio – as the Les McCann trio gets backed up by the Gerald Wilson Orchestra! Given the hipness of Wilson's sound, and the fact that his group features solo work by Teddy Edwards and Dennis Budimir, the overall approach to the record is really wonderful – pushing McCann way past his usual bag, and fleshing out the core grooves of the trio very very nicely! Tracks include "Maleah", "Love Of Living To Do", "Kathleen's Theme", "Gus Gus", "Restin In Jail", and "Bailor The Wailor". LP, Vinyl record album

Features Jeremy Pelt and Eddie Henderson on trumpet, Kamasi Washington on tenor, Gary Smulyan on baritone sax, and Renee Rosnes on piano1 CD

With John Stephens & Randall Willis on alto saxophone, Jack Nimitz on barritone saxophone, Trey Henry on bass, Maurice Spears on bass trombone, Mel Lee on drums, Anthony Wilson on guitar, and Brian O'Rourke on piano. CD

A very hip set of arrangements by LA bandleader Gerald Wilson – and one that takes his soul jazz stylings of earlier albums, and gives them a bit more of a late 60s funky sound. The band's pretty darn hip, and includes players like Anthony Ortega, Hadley Caliman, and Bobby Bryant – and titles include a nice working of "California Soul", plus "Lullaby From Rosemary's Baby", "Sunshine Of Your Love", and "Down Here On The Ground". LP, Vinyl record album

Ahhh . . . Gerald Wilson at the height of his powers – recording here in a mode that could never miss! The group's a jazz orchestra, but it's filled with some of the hippest cats on the west coast in the 60s – soulful soloists who include Anthony Ortega on flute and alto, Curtis Amy on soprano sax, Phil Moore on piano, Teddy Edwards on tenor, Victor Feldman on vibes, and Dennis Budimir on guitar – all grooving in tight formation that still allow plenty of space for solos on each tune – even when the group is vamping, romping, and hitting an all-out swinging 60s soul jazz groove! Includes versions of "Freddy Freeloader", "Watermelon Man", "Yeh Yeh", and "I Got You (I Feel Good)" – and other titles include "Well Son Shuffle", "Do Anything You Wanna", "When I'm Feeling Kinda Blue", and "One On The House". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes the songs "Love You Madly", "Getaway", "Sophisticated Lady", "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", "Lomelin", "Ay-ee-en", "See You Later", "You Know Triple Chase", and "Blues For Zubin". CD

A seminal moment on the west coast scene of the 60s – a record that has the great Gerald Wilson pulling together some of the best elements that were going on at the time, and also pointing the way towards changes to come in the future! The set's not the first effort by Wilson on record, but it's maybe one of his most classic – and begins with superb selection of members for the ensemble – a lineup that includes Carmell Jones on trumpet, Lou Blackburn on trombone, Teddy Edwards and Harold Land on tenors, Joe Pass on guitar, and the great Jack Wilson on piano! But key to the set are the rhythms – with the wonderful bassist Jimmy Bond setting up a groove that seems to pull out the best from drummer Mel Lewis – as the pair help ground the larger group with a rock-solid groove that keeps things soulful throughout! Nearly every track's an original, and the album includes Wilson's killer track "Viva Tirado" – a tight jazzy stepper that was covered by many artists over the years, most famously El Chicano – with a Latin-tinged groove that really opens up a new sound in Los Angeles jazz! There's lots of other great cuts too – including "Moment of Truth", "Latino", "Josefina", and "Patterns". CD

Gerald Wilson conducts the extended suite "Monterey Moods" – group features Renee Rosnes, Antonio Hart, Kamasi Washington, Terell Stafford, Ronnie Cuver, Luis Bonilla, and special guest Hubert Laws on flute! CD

The title's a weird one, because the album was recorded in the studio and not on stage – but we're hardly going to complain, because the record's so great! Wilson is really cooking for this one – leading an all-great group that includes Curtis Amy, Roy Ayers, Jack Wilson, Joe Pass, Bobby Bryant, Anthony Ortega, and other 60s LA soul jazz luminaries – all coming together in a style that's certainly big band, but which allows plenty of space for breakout solos – and which really grooves a lot more like a small combo session than you might expect! Titles include "Los Moros De Espana", "In The Limelight", "Musette", "Lighthouse Blues", and "El Viti". LP, Vinyl record album

A wonderful little album from Jackie Wilson – one that helped him redefine his sound and save his career! Jackie's earlier work for Brunswick was a mish-mash of styles that ranged from raw R&B to smooth supper-club jazz to silly novelty numbers, all of which had gotten pretty stale by the mid 60s. Elsewhere at Brunswick, though, things were really popping during the time – as Carl Davis was turning the label's Chicago offices into a hotbed of soul, forged in the newer hipper styles of the Chisoul scene. Davis got Wilson into the Chicago scene for this album – had him working with arranger Sonny Sanders and director Gerald Sims – to create a wonderful batch of strident soul tunes that perfectly embody the loping Chisoul groove that was Davis' real legacy in soul music during the 60s. The prime example of this is the title cut "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher & Higher" – which became a runaway hit that put Wilson back on the map I the soul business. The rest of the album's just as great, though, and includes loads of solid numbers like "Soulville", "I've Lost You", "Those Heartaches", and "I'm The One To Do It". CD

Nancy Wilson sings lots of familiar tunes and is accompanied by Gerald Wilson and his big band orchestra. Tracks include "The Song Is You", "Satin Doll", "Bewitched", "Suffering With The Blues", "Someone To Watch Over Me", "The Best Is Yet To Come", "Send Me Yesterday", "All My Tomorrows", and "Blue Prelude". LP, Vinyl record album

Nancy Wilson sings lots of familiar tunes and is accompanied by Gerald Wilson and his big band orchestra. Tracks include "The Song Is You", "Satin Doll", "Bewitched", "Suffering With The Blues", "Someone To Watch Over Me", "The Best Is Yet To Come", "Send Me Yesterday", "All My Tomorrows", and "Blue Prelude". CD

Nancy Wilson remakes American classics of the 20th century – taking a host of tunes from Gershwin, Ellington, Arlen, Porter, and Berlin – and remaking them in her sophisti-soul style of the 60s! She's got plenty of great help on the sessions – with arrangers that include Gerald Wilson, Jimmy Jones, and Billy May – plus accompaniment from players that include Cannonball Adderley, Hank Jones, and George Shearing. The collection features a total of 44 tracks in all – and titles include "Supper Time", "Sleepin Bee", "Secret Love", "My Ship", "Dearly Beloved", "Sophisticated Lady", "You Don't Know What Love Is", "All Of You", "Bewitched", "The More I See You", "Never Will I Marry", "This Time The Dream's On Me", "Prelude To A Kiss", and "By Myself". CD

A classic! What seemed a silly idea at the time was true proof of Ray's genius, and the result was the most successful album of his career – and a bona-fide number one hit that rode the charts for years and years! Ray's voice works perfectly with the material, and thanks to soulful arrangements by Gil Fuller, Marty Paich, and Gerald Wilson, the whole thing comes off to perfection. Titles include "You Don't Know Me", "I Can't Stop Lovin You", "Careless Love", "You Win Again", and "Worried Mind". LP, Vinyl record album

One of the best albums ever from reedman Buddy Collette – a great small group session with a harder edge than some of Buddy's later records for bigger labels! Collette was always one of the more interesting players from the LA scene of the 50s – and although he had his roots in harder jazz styles, he also played a lot of studio sessions – and had an amazing ability to shift through different modes and settings with effortless ease – and also shift his work on different reed instruments too! This album's a nice mix of both sides of his style – with some cuts that have Collette playing flute or clarinet with a lyrical groove, and some more hard-blowing tracks that feature alto and tenor – in a cool quintet that features Gerald Wilson on trumpet, Al Viola on guitar, Wilfred Middlebrook on bass, and Earl Palmer on drums The session's a darn tough one to find, despite its importance in Collette's career – and titles include "Walkin' Willie", "Changes", "The Cute Monster", and "Orlando Blues". CD features a bonus track – "Soft Touch (take 5)". CD

Buddy Collette's definitely a man of many parts here – and many talents too, considering the reedwork on the set! Buddy plays alto, tenor, clarinet, and flute – using the horns with wonderful invention that really showcases his unique style of the time – that mix of modern and playful modes you'd hear in the Chico Hamilton group when Collette was around! The album features a few different groups, too – with players who include Gerald Wilson on trumpet, Ernie Freeman or Gerald Wiggins on piano, Red Callender on bass, and Larry Bunker on drums. Titles include "Ruby", "Cycle", "Cheryl Ann", "Jazz City Blues", "Zan", and "Jungle Pipe". CD

Don't let the title put you off, because this certainly isn't a session of background music – and the name simply refers to the fact that the arrangements on the set really showcase the strong horn work of the Ellington orchestra! Duke's still on piano for the session, but the real strength of the album's carried by classic Ellington players that include Ray Nance, Willie Cook, Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Hamilton, Harry Carney, and Lawrence Brown. Arrangements are by Bill Mathieu and Gerald Wilson – and although many of the tunes are older Ellington numbers, they've got a tight groove (and excellent recording quality) – which updates the material nicely. Titles include "Midriff", "Main Stem", "Happy Go Lucky Local", "What Am I Here For", "Kinda Dukish", and "Perdido". CD

Don't let the title put you off, because this certainly isn't a session of background music – and the name simply refers to the fact that the arrangements on the set really showcase the strong horn work of the Ellington orchestra! Duke's still on piano for the session, but the real strength of the album's carried by classic Ellington players that include Ray Nance, Willie Cook, Johnny Hodges, Jimmy Hamilton, Harry Carney, and Lawrence Brown. Arrangements are by Bill Mathieu and Gerald Wilson – and although many of the tunes are older Ellington numbers, they've got a tight groove (and excellent recording quality) – which updates the material nicely. Titles include "Midriff", "Main Stem", "Happy Go Lucky Local", "What Am I Here For", "Kinda Dukish", and "Perdido". CD features 5 bonus tracks – "Lullaby Of Birdland" (in 2 versions), "The Wailer", "Dreamy Sort Of Thing", and "Harlem Air Shaft". CD

An early vocal set from Les McCann – quite unusual, and pretty darn soulful as well! The album's done in a mode that foreshadows Les' move to soul during the 70s, and features him singing to some hip arrangements by Gerald Wilson – in a soulful, jazzy style that was common for LA of the mid 60s – somewhere in a space between Lou Rawls and Arthur Prysock – with all the hip, adult aspects you'd expect from those references! Tunes include a fair bit of standards, but swung in really fresh ways by Wilson – and McCann's got this restrained style of singing that's really great – almost as if he's hiding a broken heart beneath his groove. Tracks include "It's Way Past Suppertime", "Next Spring", "Bye Bye Black Bird", "Deed I Do", "I Cried for You", and "Wonder Why". LP, Vinyl record album

Perhaps the rarest of all Jimmy Scott albums – and perhaps the best, too! Jimmy cut this one for Ray Charles' Tangerine label (it was the label's first) – a fact that's driven home on the front cover, where a lounging sexy couple is reclining in front of a fire with a bottle of wine and two of Ray's albums from the time! The real star here, though, is Jimmy – who lays down some of the best vocals of his career over totally sympathetic arrangements by Marty Paich and Gerald Wilson, carefully crafting sad lonely versions of standards like "There Is No Greater Love", "They Say It's Wonderful", "Someone To Watch Over Me", and "How Deep Is The Ocean". Jimmy makes these tunes all his own, singing the songs in that wispy fragile gender-bending way that's always been both his biggest strength and greatest curse! CD

Mellow blues with a touch of jazz – a really great session cut by Jimmy Witherspoon, with backings by Bob Florence – played by a smallish group that includes Gerald Wilson, Herbie Harper, Earl Palmer, Gerry Wiggins, and Teddy Edwards! The sound here is nicely subdued – not that hokey, overdone blues-based mode used already as a "revival" of the genre in the early 60s – and instead a smokey, adult, sophisticated approach that was very much in keeping with Witherspoon's best talents, and that sound of his that paved the way for bigger crossover names in the 60s. Titles include "Blues Serenade", "Music Maestro Please", "Don't Worry Bout Me", "Lover Come Back To Me", "Do Nothin Till You Hear From Me", and "Just One More Chance". LP, Vinyl record album

With selections by Lambert Hendricks & Ross, Charles Kynard & Buddy Collette, Roy Haynes, Gerald Wilson, Les McCann, Gil Evans, Laurindo Almeida & Bud Shank, and others. LP, Vinyl record album

Groove Holmes and Gerald Wilson – a wonderful combination on this late 60s session – in a style that's everything great about mainstream LA jazz at the time! Wilson really has a way with the charts on the session – and although the group is large, they've got a lean, clean sound that bounces along nicely – slightly funky at times, always soulful at others – a perfect backdrop for the well-played Hammond lines that Groove brings to the set! The album's not as much of an all-out organ wailer as some of Holmes' albums for Prestige – but that's a-ok with us, because Wilson's group features some other great players too – including Dennis Budimir on guitar, Tony Ortega and Arnie Watts on saxes, and Paul Humphrey on drums! Titles include "Dreams Of The Everyday Housewife", "High Blues Pressure", "Listen Here", "Oklahoma Toad", "Rhythm & Groove", "In & Out", and "Isole Natalie". LP, Vinyl record album

Jelly Roll Morton on piano with George Mitchell, Ward Pinkett, Ed Anderson, Edwin Swayzee,Red Rossiter, Barclay "horsecollar" Draper, Walter Briscoe & Sidney De Paris on trumpet, Kid Ory, Gerald Reeves, Geechy Fields, William Cato, Charlie Irvis & Claude Jones on trombone, Quinn Wilson, Bill Benford, Bass Moore & Harry Prather on tu, Omer Simeon, Barney Bigard, Darnell Howard, Johnny Dodds, Russell Procope, George Bacquet, Albert Nicholas on clarinet, Stump Evans, Paul Barnes, Joe Garland, Paul "polo" Barnes, Joe Thomas, Walter "foots" Thomas, Sidney Bechet & Happy Cauldwell on saxophone, Rod Rodriguez on ensemble piano, Johnny St. Cyr, Bud Scott, Lee Blair, Barney Alexander, Lawrence Lucie on banjo & guitar, John Lindsey & Wellman Braud on bass, Andrew Hilaire, Baby Dodds, Tommy Benford, Manzie Johnson, William Laws, Zutty Singleton on drums & Marty Bloom on effects. CD

Arguably one of the best 50s jazz sessions on west coast powerhouse label Contemporary – superbly recorded, and done in a format that really breaks from the format of a lot of LA jazz at the time! The whole thing's incredibly relaxed – really allowing for a lot of space to hear the playing of leader/bassist Leroy Vinnegar, and making for some great small group interplay between musicians that include Victor Feldman on vibes, Gerald Wilson on trumpet, Teddy Edwards on tenor, and Carl Wilson on piano. Tracks are longish, with great arrangements (some by Feldman), and titles include "Walk On", "Would You Like To Take A Walk", "Walkin", and "Walkin By The River". LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal session of LA hardbop – featuring a great group that includes Gerald Wilson, Jack Sheldon, Harold Land, Frank Butler, and pianist Carl Perkins, the unique talent who had a strange way of playing the keys (sideways!), and who died shortly after the recording of this set. As the title might imply, the album's dedicated to Perkins – and titles include "Nica's Dream", "Pink Lady","Carl's Blues", and "Larue". LP, Vinyl record album

Maybe the most spiritual of the three albums recorded as part of the great Trios project from reedman Charles Lloyd – a set that was recorded at the legendary Lobero theater in Santa Barbara, but without an audience in place – which makes for a beautiful mix of wide space and intimate interplay! Lloyd is wonderful on reeds, especially flute – and the group also features Gerald Clayton on piano and Anthony Wilson on guitar – stretching out with Charles on these long tracks that allow for both exploratory solos, and this very easygoing interplay between the musicians. Tracks include "Jaramillo Blues", "Isa Wind", "Hagar & The Inuits", and "The Lonely One". CD

Includes work with Richard Groove Holmes, Gerald Wilson, Stanley Turrentine, Lou Rawls, and Eddie Harris. 21 tracks total. CD

The title's no lie – as Sarah Vaughan sings here in some very soulful company – thanks to arrangements from Gerald Wilson, which make this record one of the standout from her years on Roulette Records! The other players aren't listed, but they're clearly the kind of top-shelf bunch that Wilson would have pulled together – and there's a nice Hammond player who gets a lot of space, and brings the organ to bear with Vaughan's vocals – in a way you don't always hear on other records! There's also a strong trumpet and tenor soloist, who both do a great job of opening up Wilson's charts – and titles include "Taste Of Honey", "Easy Street", "Gravy Waltz", "In Love In Vain", "What Kind Of Fool Am I", "The Good Life", and "Moanin". CD

Includes music from Holly Cole, Dianne Reeves, Julie London, Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, Dodo Green, Lorez Alexandria, Jerri Southern, Nina Simone, and Nancy Wilson. CD

The full scope of Verve's massive recordings from the 1957 Newport Jazz Festival – served up in a 2CD set that includes many lesser-known numbers! The set certainly features some of the bigger name acts from Newport who've filled Verve's catalog over the years – Count Basie, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, and others – but it also features some of the younger, hipper talents that hit the Newport stage that year – as well as some of the older trad players who were being re-exposed to a younger audience at the festival too! 2CD set features 24 tracks in all – some on CD for the first time – including "I Never Knew" by Mat Mathews, "Blue Lou" by Leon Sash, "Love Is Here To Stay" by Carmen McRae, "Blues For Louis" by Bobby Henderson, "Bourbon Street Parade" by George Lewis, "Between Me & Myself" by Toshiko Akioshi, "Love For Sale" by Gigi Gryce & Donald Byrd, "Nona's Blues" by Cecil Taylor, "There Will Never Be Another You" by Eddie Costa, "Lady Sings The Blues" by Billie Holiday, "S Wonderful" by Don Elliott, "I Got Rhythm" by Teddy Wilson, and "Boogie Woogie" by Jimmy Rushing. CD

A who's who of female vocalists, 24 tracks including Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Nancy Wilson, Keely Smith, Lena Horne, Rosemary Clooney, Cassandra Wilson, Dianne Reeves, Diana Krall and many others. CD

Music from Charles Mingus, Max Roach Quartet, Miles Davis, Dianne Reeves, Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Javon Jackson & Cassandra Wilson, the Andrews Sisters, Jacky Terrasson, Red Fish Blue Fish and Pet. CD

Early work by pianist and bandleader Teddy Wilson, working here with Billie Holiday, Ben Webster, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Lester Young, and the Chocolate Dandies. Titles include "Once Upon A Time", "My Melancholy Baby", "Handful Of Keys", "If I Were You", "Say It With A Kiss", and "Wham (Re Bop Boom Bam)" – 24 tracks total. CD

Music from Benny Goodman Sextet, Joe Carroll, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Ruby Braff & Coleman Hawkins, JJ Johnson, Erroll Garner, Stan Getz & Bob Brookmeyer, Teddy Wilson, Ella Fitzgerald, and more. CD

One of the most unique packages we've ever seen from the mighty Mosaic Records – not a set that focuses on a specific artist or record label – but instead a treasure trove of freshly-unearthed material from the archives of Bill Savory – a legendary sound engineer whose work for Columbia Records helped transform our understanding of classic jazz! The sides here aren't Bill's work for that label – but instead feature recordings he made of rare broadcast performances – material that's surprisingly well-recorded, given Savory's skills with the technology of the times – which means that these tracks are way more than the kind of fuzzy radio tapes that used to show up on older jazz bootleg albums. Mosaic did a great job of restoring these materials, and presenting them with wonderful clarity – in a succession of late 30s performances that feature rare work by Count Basie, Albert Ammons, Mildred Bailey, Teddy Wilson, Glenn Miller, John Kirby, Carl Cress, Ella Fitzgerald, Coleman Hawkins, Fats Waller, Lionel Hampton, Roy Eldridge, Jack Teagarden, and other giants of the swing generation. There's 108 tracks in all – including a few surprisingly long performances – and the whole thing comes with the usual hefty Mosaic Records package of notes and photos! CD