Four different sessions featuring pianist
Jay McShann are on this enjoyable CD. The first three numbers team the veteran swing/blues player with bassist
Major Holley and drummer
Bobby Durham, including a swinging rendition of "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter." There are also three duets with
Holley that are particularly valuable, as the bassist (who has two vocals) passed away later that year and these might very well be his final recordings. The next three pieces (two of which are blues) feature the trio of
McShann, trombonist
Al Grey (who is in top form), and bassist
Bill Crow. The remaining three numbers have
McShann and
Grey featured in a quintet with flügelhornist
Clark Terry (who shares two humorous good-time vocals with the pianist), bassist
Milt Hinton, and drummer
Ben Riley. All of the sessions are quite fun and are filled by colorful solos. The CD concludes with
Jay McShann on "Jazzspeak," talking in great detail about his early life up until his first years in Kansas City. Overall, this is a difficult program not to love. ~ Scott Yanow