CD with 28-page booklet, 25 tracks, playing time: 82 minutes. Prior to his full-fledged leap into the R&B arena, Big Al played with the orchestras of Andy Kirk and Duke Ellington. Sear-iously deals with his swinging 1949-1956 sides as a bandleader for Coral, RCA Victor, Herald, and Groove. Backed by a coterie of New York heavy hitters including saxman Budd Johnson, guitarist Mickey Baker, bassist Milt Hinton, and drummer Panama Francis, Sears rattles the rafters time and again with barn-burners featured on this compilation. Fellow New York R&B pioneer Jesse Stone turns up as guest vocalist under his Charles Calhoun sobriquet on Come And Dance With Me. Sears was a featured member of Alan Freed's rock and roll orchestra, and it's obvious why, as Big Al's big tone could instantly ignite any audience. Big Al invented R&B saxophony! Tenor sax comes no better!
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