This two-CD set has its interesting moments. Drummer
Louie Bellson and his quintet (which also includes trumpeter
Bobby Shew,
George Young on tenor, pianist Willie Pickens and bassist
Keter Betts) perform seven selections including
Horace Silver's "Blowin' the Blues Away,"
George Young's "For Diz" and "When You Wish Upon a Star." The second CD has a 27-minute medley that pays tribute to drummers
Gene Krupa,
Buddy Rich,
Art Blakey,
Jo Jones,
Shelly Manne and
Chick Webb. In addition there is a nearly 34-minute "Jazzspeak" in which
Bellson talks about the drummers, the many bandleaders that he has worked with and a variety of miscellaneous music-related subjects. Although interesting, much of it is probably not worth hearing twice. ~ Scott Yanow