The Best of the Big Bands Sampler contains 16 highlights from the Columbia vaults, including selections by
Cab Calloway ("Minnie the Moocher's Wedding"),
Glen Gray ("Limehouse Blues"),
Les Brown ("Sentimental Journey"),
Benny Goodman ("Taking a Chance on Love"),
Woody Herman ("Everybody Knew But Me"), Sammy Kaye ("Harbor Lights"),
Les Brown ("Leap Frog") and Larry Elgart ("Woodchopper's Ball"). Serious jazz fans will be frustrated by the sampler nature of the collection, but listeners who just want solidly swinging versions of classic songs and are nostalgic for the big band era will thoroughly enjoy this collection. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine