Search - Various Artists :: Hip Jazz Bop: Over a Million Served

Numerous gems stud this installment of Hip Jazz-Bop's fine compilation series taken from the vaults of the Black Lion label, a British-based operation that recorded American expatriate jazzmen in the 1950s and '60s. "Blue Skies" features a particularly avuncular tenor solo from Zoot Sims, and the uncredited Al Cohn does much the same on Oscar Pettiford's "There Will Be Another You." Thelonious Monk's wistful "Ruby My Dear," Stephane Grappelli's whimsical "I Saw Stars," and Donald Byrd's worldly "Suedel" exude the casual excellence that was the norm of the post-bop years. Pre-bop luminaries are showcased as well: Earl Hines on "Le Bijou" and the ever-popular Duke Ellington on "Take The A Train." Ultra cool trumpetmen Kenny Dorham ("Stella by Starlight") and Miles Davis ("Baby, Won't You Make Up Your Mind?") are represented, as is the mellifluous trombone of Bob Brookmeyer, featured on the CD's closing cut, "The Chant." All in all, this is a very satisfying selection of bop-flavored nuggets. --Wally Shoup