Claude Williamson was one of the better bebop-oriented pianists to be active during the 1950s. This trio set with bassist
Red Mitchell and drummer
Mel Lewis has been reissued on CD. With the exception of four-minute renditions of "Stella by Starlight" and
Horace Silver's "Hippy," all of the numbers clock in around the three-minute mark. The repertoire (which includes such tunes as "Somebody Loves Me," "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top," "Just One of Those Things" and "The Song Is You") is typical for the time period and
Williamson brings to the music his own approach to playing bop. The set is quite enjoyable and, even if the program (which is around 39 minute) is a bit brief, it should appeal to straightahead jazz fans.