Mainstream trumpeter Dick Collilns served faithfully in the bands of Dave Brubeck and Charlie Barnet before staking his claim in the 1950s with Woody Herman’s Herd. On his own, he put together a hard swinging pair of units,one, a nine piece team called The Runaway Herd, and another with an orchestra. The charts are by either Al Cohn or Nat Pierce and have a flavor of Herman and Basie that is infectious.
Collins horn is warm and bright, akin to Harry James, and gives lots of space to fellow soloists Med Flory/as, Bill Perkins/fl-ts, Al Cohn-Dick Hafer/ts, Jack Nimitz/b with a sizzling rhythm team of Nat Pierce/p, Red Kelly/b and Chuck Flores/dr on a 1954 session. Perkins’ flute glides over the reds on “Stairway To The Stars” and Collins glistens around the velvety support on “Angel Eyes”. Pierce’s economic piano gives a KC feel to “No Soap” and the fun “Very Shifty”. A four fingered fastball delivery.
From the same year, Collins brings in a larger ensemble that, among others, adds Herb Ellis/g, Richie Kamuca/ts and Billy Byers/tb, for a very Basie-inspired session, with the saxes stretching out on “Donna Mia” and Collins ebullient on “They Cant’ Take That Away From Me” and “The Winter of My Discontent” with Cohn. This thoroughly enjoyable set skips like a stone on Lake Superior.