Anthropology
Artist: Don Byas

Don Byas was one of the great tenor saxophonists in jazz history but, due to his decision to move permanently to Europe in 1946, he remains very underrated in the jazz history books. This superlative set (in which he is backed by pianist Bent Axen, bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer William Schiopffe) finds Byas stretching out in a club on five... Read More

A Night in Tunisia
Artist: Don Byas

The first of two CDs documenting two nights at the Montmartre in Copenhagen, this release features the great tenor Don Byas in a quartet with pianist Bent Axen, bassist Niels Pederson (still a teenager) and drummer William Schiopffe. Alternating romps with ballads, Byas tears into such songs as "I'll Remember april," "Anthropology" and "A Night... Read More

A Tribute to Cannonball
Artist: Don Byas

The title of this album is misleading for, although Cannonball Adderley produced the session, no "tribute" takes place. Adderley could always recognize talent and he was wise to get the veteran tenor Don Byas (who had not recorded since 1955) back on record. Teamed in Paris with trumpeter Idrees Sulieman, pianist Bud Powell, bassist Pierre... Read More

Walkin'
Artist: Don Byas

The second of two CDs taken from the same appearances at the Montmartre in Copenhagen as A Night in Tunisia, this release showcases the masterful (if underrated) tenor Don Byas in a quartet with pianist Ben Axen, bassist Niels Pedersen and drummer William Schiopffe. Byas was always a powerful player and he digs into such songs as "There'll Never... Read More

Can't Help Swinging
Artist: Jimmy Hamilton

Jimmy Hamilton spent 25 years (1943-68) with Duke Ellington's Orchestra, gaining recognition as a technically skilled cool-toned clarinetist and an occasional (but underused) booting tenor player. His own recording projects were very infrequent and his two Swingville LPs (reissued in full on this 1999 CD) were formerly very scarce. For one of... Read More

Budd Johnson and the Four Brass Giants
Artist: Budd Johnson

This reissue of a Riverside album, which surprisingly has not yet come out on CD, is a classic. The great Budd Johnson, who takes tenor solos throughout the date and also contributes a bit of clarinet in addition to providing the arrangements, is matched with four distinctive and very different trumpeters: Clark Terry, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Nat... Read More

Let's Swing
Artist: Budd Johnson

This CD reissue brings back one of tenor saxophonist Budd Johnson's best showcases. Featured in a quintet with his brother Keg Johnson on trombone, pianist Tommy Flanagan, bassist George Duvivier, and drummer Charlie Persip, Budd starts off with a ballad feature ("Serenade in Blue") and performs three originals (including "Downtown Manhattan"... Read More

Now Playing: A Night at the Movies/Up in Erroll's Room
Artist: Erroll Garner

Many of Erroll Garner's sessions from the 1960s have been reissued by Telarc. This single CD brings back all of the music from two former LPs. Garner and his quartet (bassist Ike Isaacs, drummer Jimmie Smith and percussionist Jose Mangual) romp through 13 songs taken from movies (including "You Made Me Love You," "I Found a Million Dollar Baby,"... Read More