Cat Anderson, 60 at the time of this session, was still at the height of his power at the time. Heading a quintet with fellow former
Ellington member Sam Woodyard on drums plus Frenchmen
Gerard Badini on tenor and clarinet, pianist
Raymond Fol and bassist Michel Gaudry,
Cat not only blasts out a few high notes but displays his expertise in the lower registers and with the plunger mute; he even takes a vocal on "The Cat Hums." This small group swing Lp (which has among its more memorable performances spirited renditions of "Stompy Jones" and "The Jeep Is Jumpin'") is one of
Cat Anderson's finest and is well worth searching for. ~ Scott Yanow