When these recordings were made, Cy Touff had been sitting in the Woody Herman trombone section for almost two years. His ungainly looking instrument seldom has been heard in the Jazz field. It sounds much like a valve trombone, but seems to be more flexible and more personal than the bone. Richie Kamuca, who co-featured with Cy on these sessions, was also a member of the Herman Herd. Both men have Lester Young’s spirit in their playing. They typify the mainstream school of Jazz.
The groups on this CD achieve a compulsive swing and joy that is “practically guaranteed to make you pat a hole in the floor with your foot.” The quintet sides are marked by lengthier solos from Cy and Richie, and presented them with an auspicious bow as recorded leaders. Johnny Mandel and Ernie Wilkins’ charts provide ample chance for the octet to get a walking, pulsing, Basie-ish beat going behind all the soloists.
Featuring Harry Edison, Conrad Gozzo (tp), Cy Touff (btp), Richie Kamuca (ts), Matt Utal (as, bars), Pete Jolly, Russ Freeman (p), Leroy Vinnegar (b), and Chuck Flores (d)
10 Tracks. Recorded at Forum Theatre, Los Angeles, 1955