Just as classical music was rearranged for popular consumption in earlier decades, jazz treatments such as this session from 1961 led by drummer
Cozy Cole were the rage for a period of time. Unfortunately, this isn't one of the more imaginative outings. The leader's solos are the primary focus, of which consists of very bland arrangements of selections from Bizet's opera Carmen. In spite of the presence of notable players such as
Milt Hinton, Al Klink, Jerome Richardson (heard on some swinging baritone sax) -- thoughDick Hyman is wasted in his role on electric organ -- the cast of musicians is generally not given much to do on these dated charts. The lack of liner notes about the session itself, replaced by the usual generic biography of the leader (which is typical for the label), is accompanied by the notation that this re-release is "electronically re-recorded to simulate stereo," then hilariously notes that it is compatible not only for stereo but quadrophonic, too! Originally released in 1962 on the Charlie Parker label as A Cozy Conception of Carmen, prior to this 1974 budget reissue by Everest, it is very safe to say that this brief (under 27 minutes) album is unlikely to reappear on CD, and that few jazz fans will bother to give it a second glance if they run across it in a used record bin.