Some of arranger
Pete Rugolo's Mercury and Emarcy recordings of the late 1950s seemed to concentrate more on getting effects than producing creative jazz. On the back of this out-of-print LP,
Rugolo says that he thinks of it as "an abstract album of interesting sounds." The emphasis throughout is on the playing of
Larry Bunker (vibes, xylophone and tympani), the bongos of
Jack Costanzo, drummer
Shelly Manne and sometimes
Mel Lewis on second drums. Some tunes utilize a big band, while others have an oversized rhythm section that includes pianist
Marty Paich. However, with such titles as "Artistry In Percussion," "Chorale For Brass, Piano and Bongo," "Drumerama" and "Bongo Riff," the album is primarily for hi-fi freaks and those who love percussion solos.