Pete Fountain and Brenda Lee met in 1960 at the opening of Fountain's French Quarter Inn jazz club in New Orleans. The two enjoyed an impromptu on-stage jam session that led, eight years later, to For the First Time, a collaboration that pairs Lee's interpretive vocal abilities with Fountain's "Dixiepolitan" clarinet solos. The album deservedly became one of the last Top 100 charters for both artists. Although it is merely good overall, the unique instrumental setting is a welcome departure for Lee, whose late-'60s albums were often easy listening snoozers…
Accompanied by an enthusiastic big band featuring some solos from tenor great Eddie Miller, trombonist Moe Schneider, Jackie Coon on mellophone and the trumpets of John Best and Conrad Gozzo, Pete Fountain is in excellent form on a dozen blues-oriented pieces…