Although this reissue was released under the name the Count Basie Bunch, only a few of the selections actually employ
Count Basie. Rather,
Cool Too is a collection of excellent 1954-58 small-group recordings that are led by such
Basie sidemen as trumpeters
Buck Clayton &
Joe Newman and drummer
Jo Jones (not to be confused with
Philly Joe Jones, another famous jazz drummer). John Hammond, who produced the recordings for Vanguard, had a strong passion for
Basie-type swing -- so it isn't surprising that he successfully brought together so many
Basie associates in the 1950s. Some of the high points of this CD range from
Frank Wess' soulful tenor sax on "The Sleeper" and
Vic Dickenson's expressive trombone on "Good Morning Blues" to Clayton's robust trumpet on "Blues Blasé" and "Ballin' the Jack." Vocalist
Joe Williams, who was
Jimmy Rushing's most important successor in the
Basie band, is in fine form on live performances of "More than One for My Baby" and "I Want a Little Girl," both of which were recorded live in New York in 1956 and come from the album A Night at Count Basie's. For swing fans,
Cool Too is highly recommended. ~ Alex Henderson