The 1958 classic Jazz Giant showcases the alto saxophone, trumpet and arrangements of triple threat Benny Carter, whose majestic talent awed four generations of jazz artists (he's joined by a formidable cast including Manne, Kessel and tenor sax titan Ben Webster).

Here, Carter displays three of his many talents, principally as an alto saxophonist, but also as a composer on two numbers and a trumpeter on two. The company he kept, with Webster and Frank Rosolino rounding out the front line, and such fellow giants as Andre Previn, Barney Kessel, Leroy Vinnegar, and Shelly Manne in the rhythm section (Jimmy Rowles replaces Previn on two tracks) left no doubt that this album would be a milestone in straight-ahead, small group, mainstream jazz.

• Contemporary Records Acoustic Sounds Series
• Six key albums from the Contemporary Records catalog reissued on 180-gram vinyl!
• Titles featuring Art Pepper, Barney Kessel, Benny Carter, Hampton Hawes and Shelly Manne
• Featuring all-analog mastering by Bernie Grundman
• Pressed at Quality Record Pressings
• Stoughton Printing old-style tip-on jackets
• Continuing Craft Recordings' 70th Anniversary celebration of Contemporary Records!

Review

A1 Old Fashioned Love
A2 I'M Coming Virginia
A3 A Walkin' Thing
B1 Blue Lou
B2 Ain'T She Sweet
B3 How Can You Lose
B4 Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me