Although they originally became famous for playing with different big bands (trumpeter
Harry "Sweets" Edison with
Count Basie and tenor saxophonist
Ben Webster with
Duke Ellington), the two very distinctive swing stylists recorded together frequently in the late 1950s including with
Billie Holiday. The music on this two-CD set is drawn from four different record projects from 1956-1957. A pair of
Edison-led records, Sweets and Gee Baby, Ain't I Good to You?, are reissued in full. The two horns are joined on the former set by pianist
Jimmy Rowles and guitarist
Barney Kessel in the rhythm quartet while the latter has the Oscar Peterson Quartet. Not too surprisingly, the music is strongly influenced by
Count Basie and the emphasis is on basic originals along with occasional standards. Also on this two-fer are the four numbers from
Dave Garroway's Some of My Favorites LP that feature the two horns with
Rowles and vibraphonist
Red Norvo, and the six
Woody Herman vocals from Songs for Hip Lovers that also have
Edison and
Webster. While it would also be desirable to acquire the
Garroway and
Herman sets in full, this is a generous two-fer that has
Webster and
Edison playing in prime form throughout. Fun and swinging music. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
