2 albums
on 1 CD – and a package that not only features great work from leader Lennie Neihaus, but also some great tenor from Bill Perkins too!
On the first album Lennie swings, but he keeps it cool too – as this rare Mercury set steps off of the same octet energy Niehaus brought to his better-known sides for Contemporary in the mid 50s! The players here are a bit lesser known than some of Niehaus' other all-star groups – with Ken Shroyer
on trombone, Ed Leddy
on trumpet, and Steve Perlow
on baritone – alongside some nicely searing tenor from Bill Perkins, whose presence always makes a set like this sparkle! Lou Levy plays piano and Red Kelly is
on bass – and titles include "Soon", "Little Girl Blues", "P & L", "Four Eleven West", "He Ain't Got Rhythm", "Kiss Me & Kill Me With Love", and "I See Your Face Before Me". The second half of the CD drops out Lennie Niehaus entirely, and features the album Bill Perkins Live
On Stage – originally recorded for Pacific Jazz in 1956, and featuring Niehaus arrangements
on 2 tracks. The group includes Perkins
on tenor, Bud Shank
on alto, Jack Nimitz
on baritone, Stu Williamson
on trumpet, Carl Fontana
on trombone, Russ Freeman
on piano, Red Mitchell
on bass, and Mel Lewis
on drums. The live setting takes nothing away from the perfection of the group's conception, as Perkins' leadership is impeccable, bringing together the horns in a beautiful wash of sound. Titles include "Let Me See", "Zing Zang", "For Dancers Only", "One Hundred Years From Today", "Song Of The Islands", and "As They Reveled".
(Sealed copy.)