Hard Swingin' Fun
Robert | 10/26/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This may be my favorite Gillespie record. The version of "Swing Low Sweet Cadillac" is much better than the one on the so-so later album by that name, "Ooh-Shoo-Be" is a classic Diz "put-on" number, "On the Sunny Side" is also great, up there with the version on the Verve album with the Sonnies Rollins and Stitt (also a great record), and you also get a few good readings of standards. The whole album swings and is a lot of fun. The sound quality on the 20-bit remaster, though still well below contemporary standards (surprise), is decently balanced and good enough that you can crank it up without making your ears bleed. Plus, I just love the packaging for these Savoy imports. Unless you're already overloaded with recordings from this era, my advice is to grab this while it's still available."