A few years ago Fresh Sound Records came up with the brilliant idea of reissuing soundtracks from vintage B movies. This latest disc is a honey of a set, led by a pair of relatively unknown band leaders, Bob Freedman and Keith Williams. These two sessions from Boston and Hollywood had orchestras that were filled with top rate jazzers, and the music swung with muscle.
Freeman’s ban included Herb Pomeroy/tp, Bill Berry/tp, and Joe Caruso/ts, and they give a fitting tribute to Duke Ellington for his soundtrack to the famous James Stewart flick Anatomy of A Murder. Jimmy Mosher’s baritone sax is spot on for the driving “Main Title (Upper and Outest)” and hits magma on a noirish “Midnight Indigo”. Ducal textures are palpable on”Haupe” with Ray Santisi’s piano sparkling on “Happy Anatomy Part II”. This is a hummer!
Keith Williams’ orchestra took on some vintage TV and movie themes with an orchestra that included no less than Don Fagerquist/tp, Benny Carter/as, Ted Nash/as and Wrecking Crew member Tommy Tedesco/g. The swing like there’s no tomorrow on Count Basie’s “M-Squad” theme, and cruise through the streets of LA on “Perry Mason” and “Themes from ‘The Wild One’”. Some hp voices join in on a kick of “77 Sunset Strip” and you’ll look over your shoulder on the lurking “The Man With The Golden Arm” and “Richard Diamond”. Music to get mugged by!