Mel Lewis Naturally

Herb Geller was a west-coast alto saxophone player that later settled down in Germany. But in the fifties he was all American and also had a professional relationship with his piano playing wife, Lorraine. It must have been the post bebop eras first husband-wife quartet with the solid Red Mitchell on bass and the young aspiring Mel Lewis on drums.
Over three days in 1955 they recorded this splendid album consisting of 12 sizzling tracks - amongst these five original tunes by Herb himself. The quartet plays together with ease, relaxation and dedication. Naturally with a focus on Herbs sax but Lorraine and Red also takes the solo space from time to time. Halfway through the album Lorraine Geller has a thoughtful piano solo piece that differs a lot from the rest album…

Herb Geller was a west-coast alto saxophone player that later settled down in Germany. But in the fifties he was all American and also had a professional relationship with his piano playing wife, Lorraine. It must have been the post bebop eras first husband-wife quartet with the solid Red Mitchell on bass and the young aspiring Mel Lewis on drums.
Over three days in 1955 they recorded this splendid album consisting of 12 sizzling tracks - amongst these five original tunes by Herb himself. The quartet plays together with ease, relaxation and dedication. Naturally with a focus on Herbs sax but Lorraine and Red also takes the solo space from time to time. Halfway through the album Lorraine Geller has a thoughtful piano solo piece that differs a lot from the rest album…

The series was revived as "AM Gold" in 1995, with a different cover design (early volumes had an artist's drawing of a pocket transistor radio, with later volumes bearing a "gold record" with the year or era spotlighted emblazoned over the top). The first 20 volumes were re-titled issues of volumes from the former "Super Hits" series with identical track lineups, while new volumes covering the mid- and late-1970s (including individual volumes for each of the years 1974-1979) were included.

The series was revived as "AM Gold" in 1995, with a different cover design (early volumes had an artist's drawing of a pocket transistor radio, with later volumes bearing a "gold record" with the year or era spotlighted emblazoned over the top). The first 20 volumes were re-titled issues of volumes from the former "Super Hits" series with identical track lineups, while new volumes covering the mid- and late-1970s (including individual volumes for each of the years 1974-1979) were included.