Nino Tempo

As part of their 40th anniversary, the Modern Jazz Quartet welcomed ten guest artists to their Celebration CD: Bobby McFerrin (brilliant on "Billie's Bounce"), Take 6, Phil Woods, Wynton Marsalis (who gets to show off his technique on "Cherokee"), Illinois Jacquet, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Branford Marsalis, Jimmy Heath, Freddie Hubbard and Nino Tempo. As usual, vibraphonist Milt Jackson and pianist John Lewis also have plenty of solo space, and bassist Percy Heath is perfect in support.

The music of Nino Rota is featured on this album with cellist Friedrich Kleinhapl and Philharmonisches Orchester Augsburg conducted by Dirk Kaftan. Rota is a musical chameleon who convincingly conjures Mozart, 19th-century Romantics, or Hollywood. The first of his two cello concertos on the album is a romantic throwback to the 19th century, though written in 1972. Kleinhapl is a perfect choice to perform this work, for his playing is very agile and expressive. His tends to have a thinner, more lyrical style of playing, like a violin, and his bow technique is fluid, moving easily between the strings.

Originally released in 2000, this collection offers 20 hard-to-find ’60s pop hits from the Atlantic, Atco and Warner Brothers vaults. This CD offers the original hit single versions of hard-to-find hits like “Al Di La” by Emilio Pericoli, “Angel on My Shoulder” by Shelby Flint and “Let’s Think About Living” by Bob Luman, as well as the iconic “I Got You Babe” by Sonny & Cher. Collectors will want rare tracks like Rose Garden’s “Next Plane To London” and the doo wop classic “Looking For An Echo” by Kenny Vance. Every song has been lovingly remastered from the original master tapes for stunning clarity and rich sound. All but five tracks are in stereo.