The masthead photo on this page shows a nook in the living room of our North Hollywood home. In this small sanctuary-of-sorts, my father, George Lacks, would sit atop the brocade cushion of the Chinese mahogany chair, listening quietly on his headphones as he patiently, lovingly, transcribed jazz and classical music from his record collection onto open-reel tape. Although George was not a musician, not even an amateur musician, listening to good music was for him as natural and essential to his well-being as eating, sleeping, or breathing. In terms of time, energy, and money, he invested in this preoccupation quite heavily; there was music filling the house almost every time the television set wasn't blaring.

Just as George believed that nothing but the best camera equipment would suffice to produce professional-grade photographs, so too did he believe that only the finest audio gear would reproduce faithfully the music in his large record collection. Happily, his audiophiliac tendencies exposed us all to a very high musical standard at home, from which I've never recovered, actually.

Allow me to begin with a rundown of the hardware. My father cobbled together a hi-fi system that was state-of-the-art for the 1950s. At its core was a Garrard turntable and record changer that boasted four speeds: 16-2/3, 33-1/3, 44-4/9, and 77-7/9 rpm (that's "45" and "78" rpm to the rest of the world). Its tonearm bore a reversible headshell that supported two phono cartridges: one for the 78s, the other for everything else. The signal was boosted by an ancient but still state-of-the-art Altec Lansing vacuum-tube receiver/amplifier, as big as a dishwasher, and which produced maybe three watts of RMS power. But power was not at a premium in those days, because my dad also fashioned his own horn-loaded speakers out of drivers that he salvaged from a theatre, and which were so efficient that they could easily rattle the windows in the house, even at moderate loads. (He loved to demonstrate them to friends in just that fashion, which irked my mother to no end.) The crown jewel of this rig was the gorgeous Berlant open-reel tape deck, with large, magnificent aluminum reels, pictured above.

And the "software" for this system? It was anything but. The majority of it consisted of heavy, bulky, and notoriously brittle 78-rpm records that filled the walls. Because their playing time was so brief, we always heard the plop-plop-plopping of these discs on the changer as they traversed an entire symphony or concerto. Over time, my dad supplemented this collection with the newly-emerging monaural and stereo recordings on 33-1/3-rpm, long-playing discs of 10 or 12 inches diameter. (I sometimes wonder whether the real reason he succumbed to a heart attack turns out to be the stress induced by fear of having to replace all of this equipment with two speakers, two amplifiers, a new phono cartridge, a new tape deck, and a brand-new record library, all in order to support the new stereo standard!) (next column)

• Indicates a title in the current rotation
• Indicates a title not currently in rotation

• A Ghost of a Chance (Victor Young, Bing Crosby, Ned Washington). Lionel Hampton, vibes; Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Ray Copeland, trumpet; Jimmy Cleveland, trombone; Oscar Dennard, piano; Oscar Pettiford, bass; Gus Johnson, drums. Recorded summer 1956, New York City. From Lionel Hampton and His All-Stars: Complete Jazztone Recordings (Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 446) (originally released as Jazztone J-1040)

• Ah-Leu-Cha (Charlie Parker). Charlie Parker, alto sax; Miles Davis, trumpet; John Lewis, piano; Curly Russell, bass; Max Roach, drums. Recorded September 18, 1948, New York City. From Charlie Parker: A Studio Chronicle 1940-1948 (JSP Records JSP915E) (originally released as B901-1)

• All the Things You C# (after Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein II; arr. Charles Mingus). Charles Mingus, bass; George Barrow, tenor sax; Eddie Bert, trombone; Mal Waldron, piano; Willie Jones, drums. Recorded December 23, 1955, New York City. From A Night at Café Bohemia with the Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop (Giant Steps Records GSCR 029) (originally released on Debut Records; catalog number unknown)

• Alone in the Night (Judy Spencer, arr. Ernie Wilkins). Joe Newman, trumpet; Frank Wess, tenor sax; Frank Foster, tenor sax; Bennie Powell, trombone; Sir Charles Thompson, piano; Ed Jones, bass; Shadow Wilson, drums. Recorded September 1955, New York City. From The Count's Men (Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 135) (originally released as Jazztone J-1220)

• A.M. Romp (Joe Newman, Ernie Wilkins). Joe Newman, trumpet; Frank Wess, tenor sax; Frank Foster, tenor sax; Bennie Powell, trombone; Sir Charles Thompson, piano; Ed Jones, bass; Shadow Wilson, drums. Recorded September 1955, New York City. From The Count's Men (Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 135) (originally released as Jazztone J-1220)

• April in Paris (Vernon Duke, E. Y. Harburg). Coleman Hawkins, tenor sax; Howard McGhee, trumpet; Allen Reuss, guitar; Sir Charles Thompson, piano; Oscar Pettiford, bass; Denzil Best, drums. Recorded February 23, 1945, Los Angeles. From Coleman Hawkins: The Bebop Years (Proper Records P1156) (originally released as Capitol 15853)

• Back to the Land (Lester Young). Lester Young, tenor sax; Nat King Cole, piano; Buddy Rich, drums. Recorded December 1945, Los Angeles. From The Lester Young Story (Proper Records P1131) (originally released as Keynote K 604)

• Bah-U-Bah (Coleman Hawkins). Coleman Hawkins, tenor sax; Hubert Fol, alto sax; Nat Peck, trombone; Jean Pierre Mengeon, piano; Pierre Michelot, bass; Kenny Clarke, drums. Recorded December 21, 1949, Paris. From Coleman Hawkins: The Bebop Years (Proper Records P1156) (originally released as Swingtime 1004)

• Bean in Orbit (Coleman Hawkins). Coleman Hawkins, tenor sax; Thad Jones, trumpet; Eddie Costa, piano; George Duvivier, bass; Osie Johnson, drums. Recorded 1960, New York City. From Coleman Hawkins Quintet: Moodsville (Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 343) (originally released on Crown Records; catalog number unknown)

• Beauteous (Paul Chambers). J. R. Monterose, tenor sax; Ira Sullivan, trumpet; Horace Silver, piano; Wilbur Ware, bass; Philly Joe Jones, drums. Recorded October 21, 1956, Hackensack, NJ. From J. R. Monterose Original Quartet and Quintet: Complete Studio Recordings (Gambit Records 69295)

• Bellarosa (Elmo Hope). Clifford Brown, trumpet; Lou Donaldson, alto sax; Elmo Hope, piano; Percy Heath, bass; Philly Joe Jones, drums. Recorded June 9, 1953, New York City. From Clifford Brown Memorial Album (Blue Note TOCJ-7071) (originally released as Blue Note BLP 1526)

• Bernie's Tune (Bernie Miller). Chet Baker, trumpet; Gerry Mulligan, baritone sax; Bobby Whitlock, bass; Chico Hamilton, drums. Recorded August 16, 1952, Los Angeles. From The Original Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan Quartet: Complete Recordings (Definitive Records DRCD44409-1)

• Billie's Bounce (Charlie Parker). Charlie Parker, alto sax; Miles Davis, trumpet; Dizzy Gillespie, piano; Curly Russell, bass; Max Roach, drums. Recorded November 26, 1945, New York City. From Charlie Parker: A Studio Chronicle 1940-1948 (JSP Records JSP915C) (originally released as Savoy S5850-4)

• Bird of Paradise (Charlie Parker). Charlie Parker, alto sax; Miles Davis, trumpet; Duke Jordan, piano; Tommy Potter, bass; Max Roach, drums. Recorded October 28, 1947, New York City. From Charlie Parker: A Studio Chronicle 1940-1948 (JSP Records JSP915D) (originally released as Dial D1105-B)

• Blue Lou (Edgar Sampson, Irving Mills). Coleman Hawkins, tenor sax; Emmett Berry, trumpet; Eddie Bert, trombone; Billy Taylor, piano; Milt Hinton, bass; Jo Jones, drums. Recorded November 8, 1954, New York City. From Coleman Hawkins and His All-Stars: The Complete Jazztone Recordings 1954 (Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 347) (originally released as Jazztone J-1201)

• Bongo Beep (Charlie Parker). Charlie Parker, alto sax; Miles Davis, trumpet; J. J. Johnson, trombone; Duke Jordan, piano; Tommy Potter, bass; Max Roach, drums. Recorded December 17, 1947, New York City. From Charlie Parker: A Studio Chronicle 1940-1948 (JSP Records JSP915E) (originally released as Dial D1154-B)

• Bongo Bop (Charlie Parker). Charlie Parker, alto sax; Miles Davis, trumpet; Duke Jordan, piano; Tommy Potter, bass; Max Roach, drums. Recorded October 28, 1947, New York City. From Charlie Parker: A Studio Chronicle 1940-1948 (JSP Records JSP915D) (originally released as Dial D1102-B)

• Boplicity (Cleo Henry). Miles Davis, trumpet; J. J. Johnson, trombone; Sandy Siegelstein, French horn; Bill Barber, tuba; Lee Konitz, alto sax; Gerry Mulligan, baritone sax; John Lewis, piano; Nelson Boyd, bass; Kenny Clarke, drums. Recorded April 22, 1949, New York City. From Miles Davis: The Complete Birth of the Cool (Capitol Jazz CDP 7243 4 94550 2 3)

• Brownie Speaks (Clifford Brown). Clifford Brown, trumpet; Lou Donaldson, alto sax; Elmo Hope, piano; Percy Heath, bass; Philly Joe Jones, drums. Recorded June 9, 1953, New York City. From Clifford Brown Memorial Album (Blue Note TOCJ-7071) (originally released as Blue Note BLP 1526)

• Chafic (J. R. Monterose). J. R. Monterose, tenor sax; Tommy Flanagan, piano; Jimmy Garrison, bass; Pete La Roca, drums. Recorded November 24, 1959, New York City. From J. R. Monterose Original Quartet and Quintet: Complete Studio Recordings (Gambit Records 69295)

• Deception (Miles Davis). Miles Davis, trumpet; J. J. Johnson, trombone; Gunther Schuller, French horn; Bill Barber, tuba; Lee Konitz, alto sax; Gerry Mulligan, baritone sax; John Lewis, piano; Al McKibbon, bass; Max Roach, drums. Recorded March 9, 1950, New York City. From Miles Davis: The Complete Birth of the Cool (Capitol Jazz CDP 7243 4 94550 2 3)

• Deep Purple (Peter DeRose). Lionel Hampton, vibes; Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Ray Copeland, trumpet; Jimmy Cleveland, trombone; Oscar Dennard, piano; Oscar Pettiford, bass; Gus Johnson, drums. Recorded summer 1956, New York City. From Lionel Hampton and His All-Stars: Complete Jazztone Recordings (Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 446) (originally released as Jazztone J-1040)

• Dialogue in F (Judy Spencer). Joe Newman, trumpet; Billy Byers, trombone; Gene Quill, clarinet; Lou Stein, piano and celesta; Milt Hinton, bass; Osie Johnson, drums. Recorded 1956, New York City. From Byers' Guide (Fresh Sound Records FSCD-2004) (originally released as Jazztone J-1217)

• Four Moons (Gil Mellé). Gil Mellé, tenor sax; Eddie Bert, trombone; Joe Manning, vibes; George Wallington, piano; Red Mitchell, bass; Max Roach, drum. Recorded March 2, 1952, Hackensack, NJ. From Gil Mellé: The Complete Blue Note Fifties Sessions (Blue Note 7243 4 95718 2 2) (originally released as Blue Note BLP 5020)

• Half Nelson (Miles Davis). Chet Baker, trumpet; Gerry Mulligan, baritone sax; Carson Smith, bass; Larry Bunker, drums. Recorded May 7, 1953, Los Angeles. From The Original Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan Quartet: Complete Recordings (Definitive Records DRCD44409-3)

• If I Had You (Ted Shapiro, James Campbell, Reginald Connelly). Coleman Hawkins, tenor sax; Billy Taylor, piano; Milt Hinton, bass; Jo Jones, drums. Recorded November 8, 1954, New York City. From Coleman Hawkins and His All-Stars: The Complete Jazztone Recordings 1954 (Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 347) (originally released as Jazztone J-1201)

• I'll Remember April (Gene de Paul, Patricia Johnston, Don Raye). Charles Mingus, bass; George Barrow, tenor sax; Eddie Bert, trombone; Mal Waldron, piano; Max Roach, drums. Recorded December 23, 1955, New York City. From A Night at Café Bohemia with the Charles Mingus Jazz Workshop (Giant Steps Records GSCR 029) (originally released on Debut Records; catalog number unknown)

• Jeru (Gerry Mulligan). Miles Davis, trumpet; Kai Winding, trombone; Junior Collins, French horn; Bill Barber, tuba; Lee Konitz, alto sax; Gerry Mulligan, baritone sax; Al Haig, piano; Joe Shulman, bass; Max Roach, drums. Recorded January 21, 1949, New York City. From Miles Davis: The Complete Birth of the Cool (Capitol Jazz CDP 7243 4 94550 2 3)

• Jordu (Duke Jordan). Clifford Brown, trumpet; Max Roach, drums; Harold Land, tenor sax; Richie Powell, piano; George Morrow, bass. Recorded August 3, 1954, Hollywood, CA. From Clifford Brown and Max Roach (Verve 314 543 306-2) (originally released as EmArcy MG26043)

• Joy Spring (Clifford Brown). Clifford Brown, trumpet; Max Roach, drums; Harold Land, tenor sax; Richie Powell, piano; George Morrow, bass. Recorded August 6, 1954, Hollywood, CA. From Clifford Brown and Max Roach (Verve 314 543 306-2) (originally released as EmArcy MG26043)

• Ka Link (Philly Joe Jones). J. R. Monterose, tenor sax; Ira Sullivan, trumpet; Horace Silver, piano; Wilbur Ware, bass; Philly Joe Jones, drums. Recorded October 21, 1956, Hackensack, NJ. From J. R. Monterose Original Quartet and Quintet: Complete Studio Recordings (Gambit Records 69295)

(discography continued next column)

From my earliest childhood, I can still recall hearing the strains of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, The Seasons by Glazunov, "Buckaroo Holiday" from Rodeo by Aaron Copland, Mendelssohn's Hebrides overture, and all manner of piano music by Chopin. I have no doubts that these early childhood experiences (and my mother's maintenance of them in the years immediately following my father's death) eventually resulted in my side career as a classical-music radio announcer. That gig began in October 1986 with KFSD-FM 94.1 in San Diego (now defunct), and continues to this day with XLNC1-FM 104.9, broadcasting in San Diego and northern Baja California.

But oh, the jazz! My dad was into the jazz, hard-core. Not the intellectually-motivated, edgy and avant-garde stuff, really; his tastes inclined to the more mainstream, "straight-ahead" jazz that amalgamates elements of the swing, bop, and "cool" schools. But it was still jazz, with everything that the term implies. My dad professed little or no patience for pseudo-jazz, "smooth" jazz, or "easy-listening" jazz. He had the good sense to know that it isn't authentic jazz unless it quite properly reeks of urban grime, weed in the air, whiskey on the floor, and the sex-soaked back seat of a Packard Clipper or Hudson Hornet sedan.

What's more, we had a great community resource for jazz back then. In 1957, KNOB-FM 97.9, which broadcast out of Signal Hill in Los Angeles County, became an all-jazz radio station, perhaps the first of its kind anywhere in the world. "The Jazz Knob," as it came to be known, retained some real luminaries from the radio industry, including Chuck Niles, Alex "Sleepy" Stein, and Jim Gosa. I still remember "Sleepy's Hollow," Alex Stein's early-evening program, and the theme music for it. (Alex Stein, it turns out, eventually bought KNOB-FM.) The jazz just flowed and flowed from this station: Horace Silver, Miles Davis, Clifford Brown, John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins,... There is probably nothing like it in the world today, unless it can be found on the Internet.

Sometimes we kids bickered with mom and dad about the entertainment to be had at some given time. We wanted to watch Warner Brothers cartoons on TV: Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Elmer Fudd, et al.; our parents wanted to hear The Jazz Knob. Although we occasionally won these disputes, many times we lost. In hindsight, I'm grateful for those losses, for our parents must have understood, way back then, that we would receive the better education for them.

• Lady Bird (Tadd Dameron). Chet Baker, trumpet; Gerry Mulligan, baritone sax; Carson Smith, bass; Larry Bunker, drums. Recorded May 7, 1953, Los Angeles. From The Original Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan Quartet: Complete Recordings (Definitive Records DRCD44409-3)

• Lester Leaps Again (Irving Caesar, Buck Clayton, Bing Crosby). Lester Young, tenor sax; Freddy Green, guitar; Count Basie, piano; Rodney Richardson, bass; Jo Jones, drums. Recorded March 22, 1944, New York City. From The Lester Young Story (Proper Records P1131) (originally released as Keynote 1302)

• Line for Lyons (Gerry Mulligan). Chet Baker, trumpet; Gerry Mulligan, baritone sax; Carson Smith, bass; Chico Hamilton, drums. Recorded September 1952, San Francisco. From The Original Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan Quartet: Complete Recordings (Definitive Records DRCD44409-1)

• Look! Four Hands (Lionel Hampton). Lionel Hampton, Oscar Dennard, piano; Oscar Pettiford, bass; Gus Johnson, drums. Recorded summer 1956, New York City. From Lionel Hampton and His All-Stars: Complete Jazztone Recordings (Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 446) (originally released as Jazztone J-1238)

• Lover Man (Jimmy Davis, Roger Ramirez, James Sherman). Gil Mellé, tenor sax; Urbie Green, trombone; Tal Farlow, guitar; Clyde Lombardi, bass; Joe Morello, drums. Recorded October 25, 1953, Hackensack, NJ. From Gil Mellé: The Complete Blue Note Fifties Sessions (Blue Note 7243 4 95718 2 2) (originally released as Blue Note BLP 5033)

• Mean to Me (Fred Ahlert, Roy Turk). Milt Hinton, bass; A. J. Sciacca ("Tony Scott"), clarinet; Dick Katz, piano; Osie Johnson, drums. Recorded 1955, probably New York City. From Milt Hinton: East Coast Jazz/5 (Rhino Records/Bethlehem R2 74325) (originally released on Bethlehem; catalog number unknown)

• Milt to the Hilt (Tony Scott). Milt Hinton, bass; A. J. Sciacca ("Tony Scott"), clarinet; Dick Katz, piano; Osie Johnson, drums. Recorded 1955, probably New York City. From Milt Hinton: East Coast Jazz/5 (Rhino Records/Bethlehem R2 74325) (originally released on Bethlehem; catalog number unknown)

• Minor Mood (Clifford Brown). Clifford Brown, trumpet; Gigi Gryce, alto sax; Charlie Rouse, tenor sax; John Lewis, piano; Percy Heath, bass; Art Blakey, drums. Recorded August 28, 1953, New York City. From Clifford Brown Memorial Album (Blue Note TOCJ-7071) (originally released as Blue Note BLP 5032)

• Moodsville (Coleman Hawkins). Coleman Hawkins, tenor sax; Thad Jones, trumpet; Eddie Costa, piano; George Duvivier, bass; Osie Johnson, drums. Recorded 1960, New York City. From Coleman Hawkins Quintet: Moodsville (Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 343) (originally released on Crown Records; catalog number unknown)

• Out of Nowhere (Johnny Green, Edward Heyman). Coleman Hawkins, tenor sax; Emmett Berry, trumpet; Eddie Bert, trombone; Billy Taylor, piano; Milt Hinton, bass; Jo Jones, drums. Recorded November 8, 1954, New York City. From Coleman Hawkins and His All-Stars: The Complete Jazztone Recordings 1954 (Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 347) (originally released as Jazztone J-1201)

• Pick 'N Pat (Milt Hinton). Milt Hinton, bass; A. J. Sciacca ("Tony Scott"), clarinet; Dick Katz, piano; Osie Johnson, drums. Recorded 1955, probably New York City. From Milt Hinton: East Coast Jazz/5 (Rhino Records/Bethlehem R2 74325) (originally released on Bethlehem; catalog number unknown)

• Poinciana (Buddy Bernier, Nat Simon). Chet Baker, trumpet; Gerry Mulligan, baritone sax; Carson Smith, bass; Chico Hamilton, drums. Recorded probably early January 1953, Los Angeles. From The Original Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan Quartet: Complete Recordings (Definitive Records DRCD44409-2)

• Poppity Pop (Slim Gaillard). Slim Gaillard, piano, guitar, vocals; Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet; Charlie Parker, alto sax; Jack McVea, tenor sax; Dodo Marmarosa, piano; Bam Brown, bass, vocals; Zutty Singleton, drums. Recorded December 29, 1945, probably Hollywood, CA. From Charlie Parker: A Studio Chronicle 1940-1948 (JSP Records JSP915C) (originally released as BTJ40-2)

• Señor Blues (Horace Silver). Horace Silver, piano; Donald Byrd, trumpet; Hank Mobley, tenor sax; Doug Watkins, bass; Louis Hayes, drums. Recorded November 10, 1956, Hackensack, NJ. From Six Pieces of Silver: Horace Silver Quintet (Blue Note 7243 5 25648 2 8) (originally released as Blue Note 1539)

• Slim's Jam (Slim Gaillard). Slim Gaillard, piano, guitar, vocals; Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet; Charlie Parker, alto sax; Jack McVea, tenor sax; Dodo Marmarosa, piano; Bam Brown, bass, vocals; Zutty Singleton, drums. Recorded December 29, 1945, probably Hollywood, CA. From Charlie Parker: A Studio Chronicle 1940-1948 (JSP Records JSP915C) (originally released as BTJ41-RE)

• Soft Shoe (Gerry Mulligan). Chet Baker, trumpet; Gerry Mulligan, baritone sax; Bobby Whitlock, bass; Chico Hamilton, drums. Recorded October 15 or 16, 1952, Los Angeles. From The Original Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan Quartet: Complete Recordings (Definitive Records DRCD44409-1)

• Sometimes I'm Happy (Vincent Youmans, Irving Caesar). Lester Young, tenor sax; Johnny Guarnieri, piano; Slam Stewart, bass; Sid Catlett, drums. Recorded December 28, 1943, New York City. From The Lester Young Story (Proper Records P1131) (originally released as Keynote K 604)

• Straight Ahead (J. R. Monterose). J. R. Monterose, tenor sax; Tommy Flanagan, piano; Jimmy Garrison, bass; Pete La Roca, drums. Recorded November 24, 1959, New York City. From J. R. Monterose Original Quartet and Quintet: Complete Studio Recordings (Gambit Records 69295)

• Take the "A" Train (Duke Ellington). Lionel Hampton, vibes; Oscar Dennard, piano; Oscar Pettiford, bass; Gus Johnson, drums; vocalists not credited, sadly. Recorded summer 1956, New York City. From Lionel Hampton and His All-Stars: Complete Jazztone Recordings (Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 446) (originally released as Jazztone J-1040)

• The Gears (Gil Mellé). Gil Mellé, tenor sax; Eddie Bert, trombone; Joe Manning, vibes; George Wallington, piano; Red Mitchell, bass; Max Roach, drum; Monica Dell, vocals. Recorded March 2, 1952, Hackensack, NJ. From Gil Mellé: The Complete Blue Note Fifties Sessions (Blue Note 7243 4 95718 2 2) (originally released as Blue Note BLP 5020)

• The Midgets (Joe Newman, arr. Ernie Wilkins). Joe Newman, trumpet; Frank Wess, flute; Sir Charles Thompson, piano; Ed Jones, bass; Shadow Wilson, drums. Recorded September 1955, New York City. From The Count's Men (Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 135) (originally released as Jazztone J-1220)

• The Nearness of You (Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington). Gil Mellé, baritone sax; Urbie Green, trombone; Tal Farlow, guitar; Clyde Lombardi, bass; Joe Morello, drums. Recorded October 25, 1953, Hackensack, NJ. From Gil Mellé: The Complete Blue Note Fifties Sessions (Blue Note 7243 4 95718 2 2) (previously unissued)

• These Foolish Things (Jack Strachey, Eric Maschwitz). Lester Young, tenor sax; Vic Dickenson, trombone; Dodo Marmarosa, piano; Red Callender, bass; Henry Tucker Green, drums. Recorded December 1945, Los Angeles. From The Lester Young Story (Proper Records P1131) (originally released as Aladdin 124)

• The Third (Donald Byrd). J. R. Monterose, tenor sax; Ira Sullivan, trumpet; Horace Silver, piano; Wilbur Ware, bass; Philly Joe Jones, drums. Recorded October 21, 1956, Hackensack, NJ. From J. R. Monterose Original Quartet and Quintet: Complete Studio Recordings (Gambit Records 69295)

• Time on My Hands (Vincent Youmans, Harold Adamson, Mack Gordon). Coleman Hawkins, tenor sax; Billy Taylor, piano; Milt Hinton, bass; Jo Jones, drums. Recorded November 8, 1954, New York City. From Coleman Hawkins and His All-Stars: The Complete Jazztone Recordings 1954 (Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 347) (originally released as Concert Hall/Jazztone J-SPEC-700)

• Undecided (Charles Shavers, Sid Robin). Lionel Hampton, vibes; Lucky Thompson, tenor sax; Ray Copeland, trumpet; Jimmy Cleveland, trombone; Oscar Dennard, piano; Oscar Pettiford, bass; Gus Johnson, drums. Recorded summer 1956, New York City. From Lionel Hampton and His All-Stars: Complete Jazztone Recordings (Fresh Sound Records FSR-CD 446) (originally released as Jazztone J-1040)

• Venus de Milo (Gerry Mulligan). Miles Davis, trumpet; J. J. Johnson, trombone; Sandy Siegelstein, French horn; Bill Barber, tuba; Lee Konitz, alto sax; Gerry Mulligan, baritone sax; John Lewis, piano; Nelson Boyd, bass; Kenny Clarke, drums. Recorded April 22, 1949, New York City. From Miles Davis: The Complete Birth of the Cool (Capitol Jazz CDP 7243 4 94550 2 3)

• Wail Bait (Quincy Jones). Clifford Brown, trumpet; Gigi Gryce, alto sax; Charlie Rouse, tenor sax; John Lewis, piano; Percy Heath, bass; Art Blakey, drums. Recorded August 28, 1953, New York City. From Clifford Brown Memorial Album (Blue Note TOCJ-7071) (originally released as Blue Note BLP 5032)

• You Know That (J. R. Monterose). J. R. Monterose, tenor sax; Tommy Flanagan, piano; Jimmy Garrison, bass; Pete La Roca, drums. Recorded November 24, 1959, New York City. From J. R. Monterose Original Quartet and Quintet: Complete Studio Recordings (Gambit Records 69295)