When singer
Joe Williams left
Count Basie's orchestra to go out on his own in early 1961, at first he co-led a group with veteran trumpeter
Harry "Sweets" Edison. The
Together set matches
Williams and
Edison with tenor saxophonist
Jimmy Foster and a four-piece rhythm section that includes pianist
Sir Charles Thompson. Among the highlights of the dozen standards are "I Don't Know Why," "Aren't You Glad You're You," and "Lover Come Back to Me."
Joe Williams did his best to de-emphasize the blues (he wanted to be known as a well-rounded singer), instead choosing to uplift and personalize standards.