The Spanish Fresh Sound label has reissued the earliest recordings by the Dave Pell Octet, one of the top cool jazz bands of the 1950s. The Rodgers & Hart set was one of the group's most famous recordings, with classic renditions of "Mountain Greenery," "The Blue Room," "Spring Is Here," and "Ten Cents a Dance" being among the highpoints. The arrangements (by
Marty Paich, Wes Hensel,
Shorty Rogers, and
Johnny Mandel) practically define the idiom, as do the cool-toned solos. A gem. ~ Scott Yanow