4 LPs ON 2 CDs

This CD it shows the development of Sonn’s American effort, from the inception of the band, through its development and until it had become a settled unit. The first four selections here were recorded Oct. 7, 1955, when the band had been in existence for barely two months. The remaining numbers, played by a crack collection of New York freelancers, were cut at sessions between 1956 and 1958. The band’s book grew but remained uncluttered, featuring loose swinging modern arrangements by chief arranger Manny Albam, with contributions by Al Cohn, Nat Pierce, and Bob Brookmeyer, and scores by Sonn himself. It was a short-lived all-star band with a sharp collective bite, flow, and beat, with a bright, handsome, brassy sound, skillful arrangements and some exceptional soloists—meat and drink to any big band aficionado.

PERSONNEL ON CD 1:

LARRY SONN (tp, arr), with collective personnel including:
Jack Hanson, Jimmy Nottingham, Abbey Hoffer, Al Maiorca, Nick Travis, Bernie Glow, Rusty Dedrick,immy Maxwell (tp); Bobby Ascher, Harry de Vito, Sid Harris, Morty Trautman, Fred Zito, George Monte, Sonny Russo, Jim Dahl, Urbie Green (tb); Hal McKusick, Phil Woods, Rich Henry, Sam Marowitz, Anthony Ortega (as); Al Cohn, Bernie Fox, Frank Socolow, Dick Hafer (ts); Jack Agee, Danny Bank, Charlie O’Kane (bs); George Devens, Tedd Sommer (vb); John Williams, Fern Facon, Nat Pierce (p); Jimmy Norton, Billy Bauer, Mundell Lowe, Freddie Green, Barry Galbraith (g); Milt Hinton, Roy Shain, Pete Compo (b); Gus Johnson, Osie Johnson (d); The Key Men: Keith Textor, Lou Anderson, Bob Olinger, Jerry Duane (vcl, #28-29).

RECORDING DATES:
New York City, October 7 (1-4), 1955
Live at Pythian Temple, New York City, November 7 (5-7), 1955
New York City, April 10 (8-11), April 11 (12-15), October 3 (16-21), October 4 (23-27), 22 (28-29), 1956

Arrangements by Larry Sonn, Manny Albam, Al Cohn and Nat Pierce

CD 1 [1-4] & [8-15] from the album THE SOUND OF SONN (CRL 57057)
CD 1 [5-7] from the album EAST COAST JAZZ SCENE (CRL 57035)
CD 1 [16-27] from the album IT'S SONN AGAIN (CRL 57104)
CD 1 [8-29] from the album THE VOCAL SOUNDS OF THE KEY MEN (CRL 57112)

PERSONNEL ON CD 2:

LARRY SONN (tp, arr), with collective personnel including:
Jimmy Maxwell, Bernie Glow, Abbey Hoffer, Nick Travis, Al Maiorca, Burt Collins, Charlie Shavers, Al De Risi, Ernie Royal, Joe Wilder (tp); Bob Brookmeyer (vtb); Urbie Green, Jim Dahl, Tom Shepard, Bob Swope, Mort Troutman, Frank Rehak, Billy Byers, Tom Mitchell, Chauncey Welsh (tb); Tony Scott (cl); Sam Marowitz, Hal McKusick, Joe Lopes, Hal Stein, Phil Woods, Gene Quill (as); Al Cohn, Dick Hafer, Bernie Fox, Spencer Sinatra, Frank Socolow, Georgie Auld, Zoot Sims (ts); Charlie O’Kane, Sol Schlinger, Gene Allen (bs); Nat Pierce, Hank Jones, Bob Corwin, Dick Katz (p); Barry Galbraith (g); Milt Hinton, Ernie Furtado (b); Osie Johnson, Gus Johnson, Al Beldini (d); The Key Men: Keith Textor, Lou Anderson, Bob Olinger, Jerry Duane (vcl #1-2); The Smooth Ones (vcl #15)

RRECORDING DATES:
New York City, October 22 (1-2), November 20 (3-5), 1956;
February 1 (6-7),, April 8 (8-10), 1957; March 3 (11-15),
June 6 (16-19), June 15 (20-22), June 24 (23-26), 1958.

Arrangements by Manny Albam, Al Cohn, Larry Sonn and Bob Brookmeyer

CD 2 [1-2] from the album THE VOCAL SOUNDS OF THE KEY MEN (CRL 57112)
CD 2 [3] from the Coral single 61759
CD 2 [4-15] from the album A SMOOTH ONE (CRL 57123)
CD 2 [16-26] from the album HAVING A BALL (DLP 29005)

CD 1

01. Zanzy
02. Ida Bridges Falling Down
03. Nutty
04. O’Dem Bums
05. Introduction by Al “Jazzbo” Collins
06. Zanzy
07. Ida Bridges Falling Down
08. Frank But Ernest
09. Close Cover Before Striking
10. It Looks Like Rain in Cherry Blossom Lane
11. From A to Z
12. The Flat Cap
13. Lemon Twist
14. The Sonn Also Rises
15. We 3
16. Why Don’t You Do Right
17. After You’ve Gone
18. I’ll Buy That Dream
19. S’posin’
20. King Porter Stomp
21. Take Care
22. I’ll Be Back for More
23. Prisoner of Love
24. I’m Glad There Is You
25. Temptation
26. The Roaring Fifties
27. The Sky Fell Down
28. I Ain’t Got Nobody (and Nobody Cares for Me)
29. I Hear Music

CD 2

01. Lulu’s Back in Town
02. All I Do Is Dream of You
03. Congo Mombo
04. My Heart Stood Still
05. Nice Work If You Can Get It
06. Sing Something Simple
07. You’re Driving Me Crazy
08. Darn That Dream
09. My Baby Just Cares for Me
10. I Gotta Run
11. Too Late
12. You’re Right, I’m Wrong
13. Real Eyeable
14. Tom Thumb
15. A Smooth One
16. Scott’s Tape
17. Trouble Is a Man
18. Down for Double
19. I’ll Be Around
20. The Great Lie
21. Well Ain’t It?
22. Blue Champagne
23. A Stranger In Town
24. Ain’t It The Truth
25. Levy’s Leap
26. Music for Drowning Your Troubles