This two-LP set (put out in 1975) combines together a pair of arranger
Gil Evans's greatest sessions. Both New Bottles Old Wine and
Great Jazz Standards were reissued for a period on CD before also going out-of-print. The former session features altoist
Cannonball Adderley in peak form as the main soloist on such tunes as "St. Louis Blues," "Struttin' with Some Barbeque," "Lester Leaps In," "Manteca" and a classic reworking of
Jelly Roll Morton's "King Porter Stomp"; other soloists include trombonist
Frank Rehak, trumpeter
Johnny Coles and
Evans himself on piano. The second date, highlighted by a very memorable rendition of "Straight No Chaser," also has "Davenport Blues," "Joy Spring" and "Django" among the highlights; key soloists include trumpeter
Johnny Coles,
Steve Lacy on soprano and tenorman
Budd Johnson. Essential music.