A mood album, The Spirit of Charlie Parker, slightly alters course, with three flutes (Wess, Jaspar and Powell), one trombone (Rehak), and a rhythm section with the dazzling Eddie Costa on piano and vibes to record four great Bird tunes. The Soul of Jazz, finds Ver Planck in a collection of songs old and new from the Gospel idiom—the final track excluded—delivered by a group of top-ranking jazzmen who “preach” their Jazz gospel. Pepper Adams is fierily effective throughout, and all involved cover the jazz spectrum from late swing to neo-modern period, depending on their stylistic allegiances.

PERSONNEL ON CD 1:

ON TRACKS [1-6], from the album “Dancing Jazz” (Savoy MG-12101)
Bernie Glow, Joe Wilder (tp); Frank Rehak (tb); Phil Woods (as);
Buzzy Brauner (ts); Gene Allen (bs); Eddie Costa (p)
Wendell Marshall (b); Bobby Donaldson (d).
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, March 26, 1957

ON TRACKS [7 & 8], from the album “Jazz Is Busting Out All Over” (Savoy MG-12123)
Bernie Glow, Phil Sunkel (tp); Bill Harris (tb); Phil Woods, (as);
Seldon Powell, (fl,ts); Sol Schlinger (bs); Eddie Costa (p);
Wendell Marshall (b); Gus Johnson, (d).
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, July 30, 1957

ON TRACKS [9-13], from the album “Jazz for Play Girls” (Savoy MG-12121)
Clyde Reasinger, Joe Wilder (tp); Bill Harris (tb); Phil Woods (as, cl);
Seldon Powell (ts); Gene Allen, (bs, cl); Eddie Costa (p, vib);
George Duvivier, (b); Bobby Donaldson, (d).
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, November 17, 1957

PERSONNEL ON CD 2:

ON TRACKS [1 & 2], from the album “Jazz for Play Girls” (Savoy MG-12121)
Clyde Reasinger, Joe Wilder (tp); Bill Harris (tb); Phil Woods (as, cl);
Seldon Powell (ts); Gene Allen (bs, cl); Eddie Costa (p, vib);
George Duvivier, (b); Bobby Donaldson (d).
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, November 17, 1957

ON TRACKS [3-6], from the “The Spirit of Charlie Parker” (World W. MGS-20003)
Frank Rehak (tb); Frank Wess (fl); Bobby Jaspar, (fl, cl); Seldon Powell (fl, ts);
Eddie Costa (p, vib); George Duvivier, (b); Bobby Donaldson (d).
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, March 27, 1958

ON TRACKS [7-12], from the album “The Soul of Jazz” (World Wide MGS-20002)
Joe Wilder (tp); Bill Harris, (tb); Bobby Jaspar (ts); Pepper Adams (bs);
Eddie Costa (p); George Duvivier (b); Art Taylor, (d).
Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, NJ, May 5, 1958.

CD 1:

01. Summer Evening
02. On Top of Old Mountie
03. I’ll Keep Loving You
04. Day by Day
05. Oh Gee, Oh Me, Oh My
06. Embraceable You
07. Jan-Cee Brown
08. Walkin’
09. Play Girl Stroll
10. Señor Blues
11. Aw, C’Mon Sugah!
12. Whoo-Ee!
13. Miss Spring Blues

CD 2:

01. Duh-Udah-Udah
02. Winds
03. Parker’s Mood
04. Marmaduke
05. Now’s the Time
06. Ah Leu-Cha
07. You Gotta Be A Good Man
08. Each Side of the River
09. Where You Gonna Run To?
10. I Can’t Believe It
11. What Could I Do
12. Royal Garden Blues