Another fine edition of Verve's budget series Compact Jazz, this Ben Webster sampler rounds up some stellar selections from the tenor giants '50s stay with the label. Webster is in top form throughout, collaborating with the likes of Gerry Mulligan, Oscar Peterson, Billy Strayhorn, and Ralph Burns. He show his brevity, too, ranging from an update of his Ellington swing staple, "Cotton Tail," to an indelible ballad like "Time After Time" and Strayhorn's complex "Chelsea Bridge." And helping on the support end, Hank Jones, Barney Kessel, Ed Thigpen, and many others provide Webster with a steady stream of ideal backdrops. A perfect introductory disc. ~ Stephen Cook