Hafer

Hal McKusick - Cross Section: Saxes (1958) {Decca Japan, Cardboard Sleeve, UCCC-9104 rel 2004}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 180 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 101 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 37 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1958, 2004 Decca / Verve / Universal Japan | UCCC-9104
Jazz / Cool / Bop / Saxophone / Clarinet

24bit/96kHz digitally remastered reissue. Comes housed in a cardboard sleeve which is a mini replica of the original LP sleeve. Hal McKusick's final recording as a leader mixes three separate sessions with contributions by four great arrangers. The cast of musicians varies from onedate to the next, although McKusick and pianist Bill Evans are present on every track, while Art Farmer, Milt Hinton, and Barry Galbraith also make strong impressions.

This LP finds Herman's Third Herd in its prime. Rather than just revisiting his celebrated past, he and his orchestra primarily perform then-recent material, much of it arranged by Ralph Burns. Highlights include a big-band version of Horace Silver's "Opus De Funk," Burns's "Cool Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "I Remember Duke" and Bill Holman's reworking of "Where or When." With tenors Richie Kamuca and Dick Hafer, trumpeter Dick Collins and bass trumpeter Cy Touff as the main soloists, The Third Herd had developed into a particularly strong unit by the mid-'50s.