In the late '40s,
Lyle Murphy, a top arranger during the swing era who led his own big band on dates from 1938-39, developed a 12-tone system of composing arranging. Although he spent much of his later career as a writer for films, he did record two jazz-oriented albums in the mid-'50s; the other set was for GNP Crescendo. This particular outing (originally cut for Contemporary and reissued on a 1997 CD) finds
Murphy contributing 12-tone compositions (six of the ten pieces are his) and arrangements for five woodwinds, pianist
Andre Previn, bassist
Curtis Counce and drummer
Shelly Manne. The ensembles do sound a bit odd, but the music swings in its own fashion and is more accessible than one would expect.
Buddy Collette and
Abe Most are among the reed players. An intriguing set.