It’s understandable that alto saxist Herb Geller (1928-2013) has been overlooked over the years, as he came onto the scene when there was a surfeit of alto sax players, most in the wake of either Charlie Parker, or consciously avoiding him. Paul Desmond, Sonny Stitt, Jackie McLean, Phil Woods, Ornette Coleman, Lee Konitz and Art Pepper are Rene Urtegerp, Jacques Hess/b, Franco Manzecchi/dr and Dany Doriz/vib.
Geller flexes his muscles for a bold “CTA” and digs into the gospel groove of “Moanin’”. Dieval is in full stride for “Foolin’ Myself” and delicate with the leader on “I Didn’t Know About You”. In a quartet setting with Henri Renaud on piano, the team bops through “Tomique In C” and digs in during “Oscar Is Happy” A one-off in Italy with Kenny Drew/p, Pierre Michelot/b and Larry Ritchie/dr is caught in concert for a hard hitting swinger of “Blue ‘n’ Boogie” while another band in Yugoslavia serves up a breezy “A Cool Day”. You’ll do yourself a favor by checking this guy out.
https://www.freshsoundrecords.com/herb-geller-albums/55314-european-rebirth-1962-paris-sessions.html