The third and final volume of two-fers that reissue all of the
Bunny Berigan big band's Victor recordings is a large improvement over Vol. 2. Covering a chaotic 17-month period in
Berigan's life (the orchestra had several disasters before collapsing completely), strangely enough, their output in 1938 seemed to improve as they went along. At one point,
Berigan had strong soloists in trombonist
Ray Coniff and tenor saxophonist
Georgie Auld and a young
Buddy Rich (who is heard here prior to joining
Artie Shaw's orchestra) really propelled the ensembles. "Livery Stable Blues," "High Society," "Sobbin' Blues," "I Cried for You," "Night Song" and a six-song
Bix Beiderbecke tribute set are among the highpoints of this excellent reissue.