A standout session from bassist Ray Brown – one of a few 60s big band sessions recorded for Verve, featuring some searing solo work from
Cannonball Adderley! Brown's name as a leader is possibly more as a compadre than the main driving force of the record – as the arrangements here are by Ernie Wilkins, often in the tightly soulful bag he was laying down at the time – and
Adderley's presence as the main soloist certainly gives a
Cannonball flair to the record. But there's definitely plenty of Brown's warmth guiding the whole session – and other players include Nat
Adderley, Clark Terry, Melba Liston, Budd Johnson, and Yusef Lateef. Some tracks have Brown's bass right out front in the arrangements, dipping nicely and adding into the groove – and titles include "Tricotism", "Cannon Built", "Thumbstring", "Two For The Blues", and "Work Song".
(MGM pressing. Back cover has light aging and some notes in pen.)