Chet Baker’s Quartet with Russ Freeman was one of the best combos of its time. The May 9, 1954 concert at Ann Arbor took place at the city’s Masonic Temple, and was originally issued as Jazz at Ann Arbor. Presented here is the Ann Arbor concert in its entirety, along with, as a bonus, five quartet sides recorded by Chet in a Paris studio in 1955 during his first European tour, among them another version of the classic "Lover Man".

In the '50s, the party line among New York jazz critics was that hard bop was the "true faith" and that cool jazz was lightweight and unemotional. But Miles Davis knew better. The trumpeter (whose Birth of the Cool sessions of 1949-1950 proved to be incredibly influential) was smart enough to realize that cool jazz and hard bop were equally valid parts of the house that Charlie Parker built, and he had no problem working with cool jazzmen one minute and hard boppers the next. Recorded for Charles Mingus' Debut label in 1955, Blue Moods is an excellent example of cool jazz.

The debut recording session of the Adderley brothers, saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley and trumpeter Nat. Given the shining star of recognition that Cannonball achieved in his short life, it's amazing that the brothers' first date would be with Nat as leader. And the band on this record is, well, stellar, even for that time in 1955: Paul Chambers on bass, Horace Silver on piano, and Roy Haynes on drums. Issued in the Desert Island Discs series by Verve, this is truly one of them. It's a hard, post-bop date that features a quintet of excellent players having a good old time in the studio. All tunes are by the Adderley brothers, who, at this time, were free to exploit their own identities (Cannonball had yet to be saddled with his "new Bird" status, since Charlie Parker had been dead less than six months)…

Avid Jazz here presents four classic Dave Pell albums including original LP liner notes on a finely re-mastered double CD.
The subject may be “Jazz and Romantic Places” and the locations may range from Paris to Rio but the jazz is strictly West Coast and Cool! Dave Pell on tenor sax is joined by the cream of jazz players from the Les Brown band with whom Pell had played for many years. The band having found time between their lucrative “day job” on the Bob Hope TV show to join their old band mate for the trip! For “Jazz Goes Dancing” Dave Pell writes in the original sleeve notes that for this project he was determined to create a jazz album to dance to, just like in the old dance band days…

Lionel Hampton and his French New Sound Vol. 1 (1955). Lionel Hampton joins forces with a number of top French musicians for this 1955 studio session, reissued in Verve's Jazz in Paris series. Three of the four compositions are Hampton's, swinging tunes arranged by Christian Chevalier. The first, "Voice of the North," is primarily for the leader's matchless vibes with the rhythm section, though individual soloists are featured, including fellow Americans Nat Adderley and Benny Bailey on trumpets and David Amram on French horn, as well as clarinetist Maurice Meunier and baritone saxophonist William Boucaya. It's just Hampton and the rhythm section (pianist René Urtreger, bassist Guy Pedersen, and drummer Jean-Baptiste Reilles) for the long workout of "À la French"…

Herb Geller was a west-coast alto saxophone player that later settled down in Germany. But in the fifties he was all American and also had a professional relationship with his piano playing wife, Lorraine. It must have been the post bebop eras first husband-wife quartet with the solid Red Mitchell on bass and the young aspiring Mel Lewis on drums.
Over three days in 1955 they recorded this splendid album consisting of 12 sizzling tracks - amongst these five original tunes by Herb himself. The quartet plays together with ease, relaxation and dedication. Naturally with a focus on Herbs sax but Lorraine and Red also takes the solo space from time to time. Halfway through the album Lorraine Geller has a thoughtful piano solo piece that differs a lot from the rest album…

Avid Jazz presents four classic Carmen McRae albums including original LP liner notes on a finely re-mastered and low priced double CD. “Torchy”; “After Glow”; “Mad About The Man” and “Birds Of A Feather”. By way of introduction to the release by our latest female artist, Carmen McRae, here is a quote from the original liner notes from “After Glow” the third selection in our four album, 2CD set. “Every so often the public is treated to an entertainer who is in some way special-not merely talented, but delightfully unusual. Lovely Carmen McRea is just such an entertainer. A vocal paradox, Carmen’s extraordinary voice is at once strong and confident, yet soft and tender”.Across these four releases you will witness not only the superb singing of the wonderful Ms. McRae but also her instrumental artistry. All four albums have been digitally re-mastered.

Avid Jazz continues with its Four Classic Album series with a re-mastered 2CD set release from Cal Tjader, complete with original artwork, liner notes and personnel details. “Tjader Plays Tjazz”; “San Francisco Moods”; “Concert By The Sea Volumes 1 & 2.”
There is a very small and very elite list of classic vibes players and Cal Tjader is certainly high up on that list. Primarily known as a Latin jazz musician, Cal was however a fine straight ahead cool jazz musician as our four fine selections will show. Take a listen to Tjader Plays Tjazz where the great man switches from vibes to drums on a cooled out straight ahead jazz set. For more cool, fun sounds try San Francisco Moods where Cal and gang capture the special atmosphere of his adopted city, San Francisco on an excellent, mostly Tjader composed set…

Dinah Washington cut a lot of sides in two decades of recording. However, her straight jazz sessions were few and far between because of the mass popular and commercial appeal that she had as a pop singer. Still, the versatile Dinah thrived in just about any setting and the one provided here in 1955 by the gifted Chicago producer Bob Shad showcases her intimate side to perfection.
Since Dinah Washington just about invented gospel-based soulful singing, it's thrilling to hear her at the peak of her powers backed by a small group that includes trumpeter Clark Terry and pianist Wynton Kelly. The session is also graced by Quincy Jones' tidy arrangements…

Most of the Sinatra recordings available during the 1950s consisted of his contemporary work for Capitol Records. But every so often his former label, Columbia Records, would get something together on LP from among his '40s and early-'50s sides. The Voice was one of a handful of '50s long-players showcasing the first phase of Sinatra's solo career, and at the time it wowed listeners - the focus is on the ballads, and the dozen represented here constitute a bumper crop of classics, all resplendent in the singer's richest, most overpowering intonation and most delicately nuanced work. The sensibilities, from the lushly seductive "Laura" to the gently self-satisfied "(I Got a Woman Crazy for Me) She's Funny That Way," show off a huge emotional range, and the latter song may be the highlight of the album…

Avid Jazz presents three classic Stan Getz albums - plus, including original LP liner notes on a finely re-mastered double CD. 'Stan Getz & The Oscar Peterson Trio', 'Hamp & Getz' and 'Jazz Giants '58' plus four additional tracks from Getz and Peterson and an outtake from the Hamp- Getz album. We guess you could say that this collection of classic albums follows the theme of our super-group idea with the recent Lionel Hampton release. For our first selection, the meeting of the cool Stan Getz and the perhaps more traditional Oscar Peterson Trio would certainly rate as a meeting of jazz superstars, take a listen and find out! The old meets the new with our next album as Stan Getz joins Lionel Hampton following a meeting of the two during sessions for the Benny Goodman Movie soundtrack…

This is another special West Coast Jazz gem. The album is from 1955 and the line up is Herb alto sax, his wife Lorraine Geller piano, the exceptional Conte Candoli on trumpet, Red Mitchell and Leroy Vinnegar bass (alternatively), Ziggy Vines tenor sax, Bruz Freeman drums. The music is on the medium tempo side for the most part, a nice relaxed West Coast mood emerges from the notes of this sessions through a solid swing. The program consists in a nice mix of Herb originals and standards by Cole Porter and Hoagy Carmichael plus more. Herb as you may know already, is a Parkerian player with a nice bop melodic sense, exceptional technique, a shining sound and perfect timing. Conte Candoli did a special job here, playing fabulous solos…

Maynard Ferguson Octet is an album by Canadian jazz trumpeter/trombonist Maynard Ferguson featuring tracks recorded at Capitol Studios, Los Angeles, CA. (tracks 1-5) April 25th 1955, (tracks 6-8) April 27th 1955 and originally released on the EmArcy label 1955. This early triumph from the solo career of the brilliant trumpeter remains bewilderingly rare - it's an avowed West Coast-jazz classic but it's been out of print for years. Verve Originals re-issued this 2008.

With a beautifully economical piano style full of grace, depth, tone, and plenty of swing, Ahmad Jamal is simply one of the greatest pianists in the history of jazz, but he has been woefully underexposed, even as he has been a giant influence in the genre, on Miles Davis, for one, and Gil Evans, who flirted with Jamal's chamber jazz style. This set collects eight of Jamal's seminal albums, 1955's Chamber Music of the New Jazz, 1956's Count 'Em 88, 1958's Ahmad Jamal Trio at the Spotlight Café and Ahmad Jamal at the Pershing: But Not for Me, 1959's Jamal at the Penthouse, 1960's Happy Moods, and 1961's All of You and Standard Eyes, all in one package. Together they form perhaps Jamal's richest creative stretch, making this set a welcome delight.