Pop singer
Frankie Laine always liked jazz and he had a longtime friendship with trumpeter
Buck Clayton. They teamed up for this well-intentioned LP with a variety of top jazzmen, including pianist
Sir Charles Thompson, tenor saxophonist
Budd Johnson, trombonist
Urbie Green, and (on a couple of numbers) guest trombonists
J.J. Johnson and
Kai Winding.
Clayton and the jazzmen sound fine, and although
Laine's vocals are certainly an acquired taste for jazz fans, there are plenty of highlights: "You Can Depend on Me," "Taking a Chance on Love," and "Roses of Picardy."