Modern Art is the prelude recording for Art Farmer prior to his partnership with Benny Golson in the Jazztet, and also foreshadows the classy, tasteful inventiveness that group brought to the modern jazz world two years after this 1958 session. Pianist Bill Evans is in here, just before his pivotal work with Miles Davis on the classic album Kind of Blue, and was the table setter for McCoy Tyner's membership in the Jazztet. Brother Addison Farmer on bass and the great drummer Dave Bailey round out this sterling quintet that specializes in playing music with a subtle approach, which is neither tame nor conservatively lazy. Included on this date is the great Junior Mance tune "Jubilation," perfectly understated in a light gospel, soul-jazz, tuneful melody with both horns wonderfully matched up in balanced unison, side by side.

The Soul of Ben Webster is a spectacularly expansive, deeply soulful, and historically monumental mainstream jazz anthology masterfully documenting the peak late-1950s studio recordings of the legendary American tenor saxophonist Ben "The Brute" Webster, beautifully compiled on double-compact disc in 1995 by the definitive Verve Records. Spanning over two and a half hours across 26 tracks, this high-fidelity archive primarily brings together the complete, legendary 1958 Verve sessions including the entirety of the seminal album "The Soul of Ben Webster", alongside brilliant late-50s companion recordings featuring fellow tenor icon Harold Ashby. Renowned for his instantly recognizable, breathy ballad warmth and his fiercely stomping, blues-drenched swing velocity, Webster commands the spotlight with unparalleled emotional authority. He is flanked by an absolute powerhouse vanguard of mainstream jazz royalty, featuring the elegant trumpet stylings of Art Farmer, the subtle guitar work of Mundell Lowe, and a flawless, telepathic rhythm engine helmed by pianist Jimmy Jones, bass legend Milt Hinton, and drummer Dave Bailey. The tracklist is an absolute treasure trove of classic acoustic jazz history, showcasing explosive original swingers like Fajista, Charlotte's Piccolo, and Blues-A-Plenty, alongside definitive, breathtakingly intimate readings of timeless standards including Chelsea Bridge, Moonlight In Vermont, and Billy Strayhorn's Satin Doll. Expanded with rare, previously unissued alternate takes of Blues For The Blues and Reelin' And Rockin', and exceptionally preserved in pristine dual-format lossless and high-bitrate audio with full booklet artwork scans, this definitive compilation stands as a mandatory cornerstone and a prized collector's holy grail for global purists of classic tenor saxophone history, mid-century studio swing, and historic Verve catalog lore.

The last of the pianoless quartet albums that Gerry Mulligan recorded in the 1950s is one of the best, featuring the complementary trumpet of Art Farmer, bassist Bill Crow, and drummer Dave Bailey along with the baritonist/leader. This recording is a little skimpy on playing time but makes every moment count. Virtually every selection is memorable, with "What Is There to Say," "Just in Time," "Festive Minor," "My Funny Valentine," and "Utter Chaos" being the high points. Highly recommended both to Mulligan collectors and to jazz listeners who are just discovering the great baritonist.