• 4 COMPLETE LPS ON 2-CD SET

• INCLUDES 20-PAGE BOOKLET

This release contains all existing sessions recorded by alto saxophone legend Sonny Criss for the Imperial label. All of the dates were made within a short period in 1956 and were issued on three LPs: Jazz U.S.A. (Imperial LP 9006), Go Man! (Imperial LP 9020), and Sonny Criss Plays Cole Porter (Imperial LP 9024). The three albums appear here in their entireties. Criss, who died prematurely in 1977 at the age of 50, is backed on these amazing sessions by such stars as Barney Kessel, Kenny Drew, Sonny Clark and Larry Bunker, among others

This set have filled out with Criss’ following studio LP as a leader, "At the Crossroads" (Peacock LP91), which also features pianist Wynton Kelly.

PERSONNEL:

• SONNY CRISS, alto sax on all tracks, plus:

• CD 1 [1-12] JAZZ IN U.S.A.
• KENNY DREW, piano
• BARNEY KESSEL, guitar
• BILL WOODSON, bass
• CHUCK THOMPSON, drums
• Los Angeles, January 26, February 24 & March 23, 1956.

• CD 1 [13-22] & CD 2 [1-2] GO MAN!
• SONNY CLARK, piano
• LEROY VINNEGAR, bass
• LAWRENCE MARABLE, drums
• Los Angeles, July 10 & 31, 1956.

• CD 2 [3-12] SONNY CRISS PLAYS COLE PORTER
• LARRY BUNKER, vibes
• SONNY CLARK or JIMMY BUNN, piano
• BUDDY WOODSON, bass
• LAWRENCE MARABLE, drums
• Los Angeles, August 21 & October 3, 1956.

• BONUS ALBUM (CD2, 13-19): AT THE CROSSROADS
• OLE HANSENM trombone, out on 13 & 17
• WYNTON KELLY, piano
• BOB CRANSHAW, bass
• WALTER PERKINS, drums
• Chicago, March, 1959.

TRACKS:

• CD ONE: TOTAL TIME: 78:50 Min.
• 01 Willow Weep For Me
• 02 These Foolish Things
• 03 Blue Friday
• 04 Sunday
• 05 More Than You Know
• 06 Easy Living
• 07 Alabamy Bound
• 08 Something’s Gotta Give
• 09 West Coast Blues
• 10 Criss Cross
• 11 Ham’s Blues
• 12 Sweet Georgia Brown
• 13 Summertime
• 14 Memories Of You
• 15 Wailin’ With Joe
• 16 How Deep Is The Ocean?
• 17 The Blues For Rose
• 18 The Man I Love
• 19 Until The Real Thing Comes Along
• 20 Blue Prelude
• 21 After You’ve Gone
• 22 Come Rain Or Come Shine

• CD TWO: TOTAL TIME: 78:45 Min.
• 01 Ornithology
• 02 If I Had You
• 03 I Love You
• 04 Anything Goes
• 05 Easy To Love
• 06 It’s All Right With Me
• 07 In The Still Of The Night
• 08 Love For Sale
• 09 Night And Day
• 10 Just One Of Those Things
• 11 What Is This Thing Called Love?
• 12 I Get A Kick Out Of You
• 13 Sweet Lorraine
• 14 You Don’t Know What Love Is
• 15 Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise
• 16 Butt’s Delight
• 17 I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)
• 18 Sylvia
• 19 Indiana