Leading Lightly

If you are already familiar with the sweet and peerless voice of the late First Lady of Swing, and you don't possess this album, than what are you waiting for? If you have heard of Ella, and do not own a single recording, than this is a great start. This collection is a wonderfully smooth and snazzy bunch of songs recorded in the late 1950s, when Ella still made them weep and laugh at the same time. The first tune is a seductive introduction to the rest. But, it certainly gets better in many different ways. From scat singing to ballads to standards, this cd has it all. Just try to listen to "As Long As I Live," "Blues in the Night," "Oh, What A Night For Love," and tell me if you haven't been converted into a chronic Ella devotee. It is not too late, despite her death a couple of years back, to get into Ella.

Recorded after his four year stint as a member of the Horace Silver quintet - The sessions are Step Lightly, The Thing To Do, Down With It, Bring It Home To Me, Boss Horn, and Heads Up - Other horn soloists include Joe Henderson and Leo Wright on the first session and Junior Cook on the other five, although he does not solo on all the tunes on the final two which are octet and nonet sessions repectivly, under the direction of Duke Pearson. There are good songs throughout the collection - 2 versions of Step Lightly, Sweet and Lovely, Cry Me A River, Mona's Mood, Perception, Alone Alone and Alone, Portrait of Jennie, I Should Care, Tones for Joan's Bones, The Folks Who Live On The Hill.

This 10 CD box set documenting the incredible career of Henry Mancini, one of the most important American composers, arrangers and bandleaders in the fields of jazz, easy listening and soundtracks. Includes hits from some of the most successful movies of the Fifties and early Sixties, including "Moon River" and "The Peter Gunn Theme".

Digitally remastered two CD set containing four full albums. This double disc contains the complete original Henry Mancini best selling albums the Music from Peter Gunn and More Music from Peter Gunn, both of which present Mancini's popular scores for the celebrated Blake Edwards' Peter Gunn TV series. Featuring some of the most impressive West Coast jazzmen like Pete Candoli, Dick Nash, Victor Feldman, Shelly Manne & Larry Bunker. As a bonus, two additional complete LPs presenting alternative versions of these compositions by similar formations: one conducted by Pete Candoli, and the other by Ted Nash & Maxwell Davis. A single tune by Shelly Manne has also been added, which did not appear on our companion volume Shelly Manne & His Men Play Peter Gunn. American Jazz Classics. 2010.