ProJazz.net

AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow:

Michel Legrand has spent most of his life as a composer in the studios and for films, but this release is a jazz classic. Legrand took 11 famous jazz compositions and arranged them for three different groups. Tenor great Ben Webster, flutist Herbie Mann, four trombonists, and a rhythm section perform pieces by Duke Ellington, Earl Hines, Django Reinhardt (“Nuages”), and the Count Basie-associated “Blue and Sentimental.” A big band with trumpeters Art Farmer and Donald Byrd and altoist Phil Woods plays “Stompin’ at the Savoy,” “A Night in Tunisia,” and Bix Beiderbecke’s “In a Mist.” The most famous session has Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Phil Woods, Herbie Mann, pianist Bill Evans, harp, vibes, baritone, and a rhythm section performing music by Thelonious Monk, John Lewis, Jelly Roll Morton (“Wild Man Blues”), and Fats Waller’s “Jitterbug Waltz.” Throughout this superlative album, the arrangements are colorful and unusual, making one wish that Legrand had recorded more jazz albums through the years.

Track listing: 

1. The Jitterbug Waltz (Richard Maltby, Jr. / Fats Waller) 5:16
2. Nuages (Django Reinhardt) 2:22
3. Night In Tunisia (Dizzy Gillespie / Frank Paparelli) 5:51
4. Blue And Sentimental (Count Basie / Mack David / Jerry Livingston) 3:21
5. Stompin’ At The Savoy (Benny Goodman / Andy Razaf / Edgar Sampson / Chick Webb) 3:46
6. Django (John Lewis) 4:12
7. Wild Man Blues (Louis Armstrong / Jelly Roll Morton) 3:21
8. Rosetta (Earl Hines / Henri Woode) 7:15
9. ‘Round Midnight (Bernie Hanighen / Thelonious Monk / Cootie Williams) 2:57
10. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (Duke Ellington / Bob Russell) 2:32
11. In A Mist (Bix Beiderbecke) 3:17

Personnel:

Bass – George Duvivier (tracks: 2, 4, 8, 10), Milt Hinton (tracks: 3, 5, 11), Paul Chambers (3) (tracks: 1, 6, 7, 9)
Bass, Tuba – Major Holley (tracks: 2, 4, 8, 10)
Conductor, Arranged By – Michel Legrand
Drums – Don Lamond (tracks: 2, 4, 8, 10), Kenny Dennis (tracks: 1, 6, 7, 9), Osie Johnson (tracks: 3, 5, 11)
Flute – Herbie Mann (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
French Horn – James Buffington* (tracks: 3, 5, 11)
Guitar – Barry Galbraith (tracks: 1, 6, 7, 9)
Harp – Betty Glamann (tracks: 1, 6, 7, 9)
Piano – Bill Evans (tracks: 1, 6, 7, 9), Hank Jones (tracks: 2, 4, 8, 10), Nat Pierce (tracks: 3, 5, 11)
Saxophone [Alto] – Gene Quill (tracks: 3, 5, 11), Phil Woods (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11)
Saxophone [Baritone] – Teo Macero (tracks: 3, 5, 11)
Saxophone [Baritone], Clarinet [Bass] – Jerome Richardson (tracks: 1, 6, 7, 9)
Saxophone [Tenor] – Ben Webster (tracks: 2, 4, 8, 10), John Coltrane (tracks: 1, 6, 7, 9), Seldon Powell (tracks: 3, 5, 11)
Trombone – Billy Byers (tracks: 2, 4, 8, 10), Eddie Bert (tracks: 2, 4, 8, 10), Frank Rehak (tracks: 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11), Jimmy Cleveland (tracks: 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11)
Trumpet – Art Farmer (tracks: 3, 5, 11), Donald Byrd (tracks: 3, 5, 11), Ernie Royal (tracks: 3, 5, 11), Joe Wilder (tracks: 3, 5, 11), Miles Davis (tracks: 1, 6, 7, 9)
Vibraphone [Vibes] – Don Elliot (tracks: 3, 5, 11), Eddie Costa (tracks: 1, 6, 7, 9)

___________________________

Label: Columbia ‎– CL 1250
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Mono
Country: US
Released: 1958

Recorded: June 25, 1958 – June 30, 1958
Recording Location: New York, NY