In the early 1950s, a period when big bands were becoming extinct, one of the very few to catch on was arranger
Billy May's.
May utilized a trademark sliding saxophone sound and a rhythm section that sounds like it would have fit in well with
Jimmy Lunceford's band. This Pausa LP, which reissues an earlier Capitol set, has some famous performances, including
Billy May's renditions of "All of Me," "Fat Man Boogie" and "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street." The short solos are less important than the general sound of the ensembles. This is the one
Billy May album to have.