Brilliant 1956 recordings with Art Farmer, Gigi Gryce, JR Montrose, Mal Waldron and co doing Gil Evans, Bob Brookmeyer and co’s arrangements of Charles originals, Jimmy Giuffre, George Russell, Nature Boy…

The great tenor saxophonist’s two 1961 albums for Contemporary — with stellar West Coast sidemen like Art Pepper, Phineas Newborn, Frank Butler, Frank Rosolino — showcasing singer Helyne Stewart on the first.

Quartet and sextet sessions led by the flautist and saxophonist: Midnight Oil, Roamin’ With Richardson and HJ favourite Going To The Movies, plus the rare and interesting 10” album Meeting In Studio, recorded in Belgrade during Quincy Jones’ 1960 European tour, by a mix of American and Yugoslavian musicians.

His wonderful, classic debut as leader, with Frank Butler, Carl Perkins and co.

Collecting three original late-fifties LPs by Montgomery brothers Buddy and Monk, and co: The Mastersounds Play Horace Silver, Ballads And Blues, and In Concert. Buddy’s vibes carry the swing, especially on Horace.

Two LPs of mid-sixties club dates — Woman Talk (with Feelin’ Good), at The Village Gate, and Live And Wailing, at The Half Note.

Two World Pacifics from 1959, The Swingers! and A Gasser! (featuring Annie Ross on her own). Straight songs and hip new renditions of great stuff like Little Niles, Four, Airegin, Now’s The Time.

An overlooked jazz classic.
In step with Giuffre’s lean, startling arrangements, Stitt expressively reins in his virtuosity: he plays dazzlingly as ever, swinging hard, but with a new lyricism and freedom.
The band is killer — including Frank Rosolino, Jack Sheldon, and Lawrence Marable — and Giuffre himself plays some of his best tenor saxophone on record.
Scintillating and absorbing; hotly recommended.