During the mid-'70s, an era when interest in pre-bop jazz was near its lowest,
Soprano Summit was formed and somehow flourished. Co-led by
Kenny Davern (on soprano, clarinet, and C-melody sax) and
Bob Wilber (tripling on soprano, clarinet, and alto), the group offered strong swing-based solos, a colorful repertoire, and, best of all, exciting ensembles. This two-CD set features the 1976-1977 edition of
Soprano Summit with
Marty Grosz's acoustic guitar and banjo acting as a third important voice while bassist
George Duvivier and either
Bobby Rosengarden and Fred Stoll on drums offer suitable support. Reissued are two complete LPs and in addition there are five previously unreleased selections from a live performance, along with a 13-minute "Jazzspeak" during which
Marty Grosz talks (with humor) about the history of the important group. Some of the many highlights of this essential set include "Grenadilla Stomp," "Ole Miss," "When Day Is Done," "Crazy Rhythm," and two versions of "Nagasaki." ~ Scott Yanow