Pleasant early fifties Chicago jazz, some surprises
A. J Metz | San Francisco, CA USA | 10/31/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"First off, this twofer contains some of the baritone/tenor battling that Sonny Stitt and Gene Ammons are known for. Liner notes on this release are pretty top-notch, but also typical of the Prestige late '70s jazz reissues. The inclusion of Art Blakey on three tracks is a nice touch, and while the fidelity and mastering drag a little (most of it sounds little better than early '50s Charlie Parker), the performances have enough swing and sparkle to make for an enjoyable overview of Ammons' early, if less funky years. Fans of Lester Young, Dexter Gordon and Coleman Hawkins will not be disappointed."