A strange record, and pretty darn goofy – but proof that the Jimmy Smith/
Oliver Nelson team could tackle just about anything and make it come up hard and swinging! The album has Nelson arranging a jazz version of
Prokofiev's Peter & The Wolf, with Smith soloing out front on most tracks, and lots of nice players in the group, like Billy Butler, Grady Tate, Richard Williams, and Richard Davis. The reed players really stand out, as they play the voices of the characters in the piece, and the album includes some very deft work by Jerome Richardson, Jerry Dodgion, Phil Woods, and Bob Ashton. Titles include "Duck Theme", "Jimmy & The Duck", "Cat In A Tree", and "Elegy For A Duck".
(Stereo MGM pressing. Cover has minimal wear & aging.)