This CD, taken from radio transcriptions cut for the radio show "The Navy Swings," features vibraphonist
Red Norvo's group in 1962, which by itself is rather notable, for
Norvo made no other recordings as a leader from 1960-68.
Red's quintet (which also includes guitarist
Al Viola, pianist
Jack Wilson, bassist
Jimmy Bond and drummer
Bill Goodwin) plays very much in the cool-toned but often heated style of his earlier trios.
Mavis Rivers and
Ella Mae Morse take a total of three vocals, but it is the 11 instrumentals (counting four alternate takes) that are particularly memorable, most notably "Spider's Web," "Lena and Lenny" and "Rhee, O, Rhee." ~ Scott Yanow