Personnel:
Harry Edison (tp), Buddy Rich (d), Sonny Criss (as), Barney Kessel (g), John Simmons (b)
Reference: DRCD 11298
Bar code: 8436006492983
This release comprises two outstanding 1955 sessions by quintets featuring trumpeter Harry Sweets Edison and drummer Buddy Rich. The latter was in fact the nominal leader of the sessions, although it is not easy to talk about leadership with two figures of such musical stature. Sweets and Rich are backed on both quintet dates by the remarkable Jimmy Rowles on piano and John Simmons on bass. The first session also boasts Edisons interplay with alto saxophonist Sonny Criss as the second horn. This was the only session recorded by Criss during that entire year and his first since 1952! On the second session, Sweets is the only horn, and the quintet is completed by guitarist Barney Kessel.
Tracklisting:
01. Blues in the Closet [Sonny and Sweets]
02. The Two Mothers
03. A Smo-o-oth One
04. Broadway
05. Nice Work If You Can Get It
06. Willow, Weep for Me
07. You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me
08. Now's the Time
09. The Yellow Rose of Brooklyn
10. Lester Leaps In [All Sweets]
11. Easy Does It
12. Barney's Bugle [Blues]
Total time: 77:47 min.
Personnel on tracks #1-4: Harry "Sweets" Edison (tp), Sonny Criss (as), Jimmy Rowles (p), John Simmons (b), Buddy Rich (d). Recorded in Los Angeles, on August 26, 1955.
Personnel on tracks #5-12: Same personnel as above except Barney Kessel (g) replaces Criss. Recorded in Los Angeles, on September 1, 1955.
