Critic's Review
Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
Steve Allen is often dismissed by jazz critics as a prolific tunesmith who cranked out few memorable songs. That notion is easily cast aside, particularly with this brilliantly arranged recording of a dozen of his works by Manny Albam. "Mister Moon" is a cheerful, brisk number, featuring a brass section consisting of Gene Quill, Al Cohn, Frank Socolow, and Gene Allen. The equally upbeat "South Dakota" showcases three of the four trumpeters present, including Ernie Royal, Nick Travis, and Art Farmer. Pianist Dick Katz is interspersed between riffs by the brass and reed sections in the saucy "An Old Piano Plays the Blues." Some of the other outstanding musicians on this record are Milt Hinton, Bob Brookmeyer, Osie Johnson, and Eddie Costa. This difficult to find album is an excellent example of both the compositions of Steve Allen and the arrangements of Manny Albam.
