In the five years from 1957-1962, the catalogue of Savoy Records could be relied upon to have a balance of reissued material and freshly minted music. By now a very established label, Savoy exposed scores of artists that wouldn’t have normally got the attention if it hadn’t been for risk-taking owner Herman Lubinksy. This three disc set covers a period of significant change for Jazz where be-bop was taking a back seat to hard bop, soul jazz and the free improvisation of ‘avant-garde artists, nevertheless the label maintained a continuous output of the highest quality. Quite simply its 54 tracks of fine music, from fine musicians.
Disc: 1
1. A Night in Tunisia - Yusef Lateef - Yusef Lateef
2. Boneology - J.J. Johnson - J.J. Johnson
3. Yardbird Suite - Herbie Mann - Herbie Mann
4. Spanish Guitar Blues - Charlie Byrd - Charlie Byrd
5. Stan Getz Along - Stan Getz and Zoot Sims - Stan Getz and Zoot Sims
6. Dexter's Deck - Dexter Gordon - Dexter Gordon
7. Well's Fargo - Wilbur Harden & Tommy Flannigan - Wilbur Harden & Tommy Flannigan
8. Blues-Ette - Curtis Fuller - Curtis Fuller
9. Body and Soul - Lester Young - Lester Young
10. Where Is Tomorrow - Sun Ra - Sun Ra
11. Jungle Noon - New York Jazz Ensemble - New York Jazz Ensemble
12. How Deep Is the Ocean - Dizzy Reece - Dizzy Reece
13. Monday Stroll - Frank Wess - Frank Wess
14. S.M.T.W.T.F.S.S. Blues - Sahib Shihab - Sahib Shihab
15. Nostalgia - Fats Navarro - Fats Navarro
16. Trumpets All Out - Ernie Wilkins - Ernie Wilkins
17. Kerry Dance - Gigi Gryce - Gigi Gryce
18. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot - Dizzy Gillespie - Dizzy Gillespie
Disc: 2
1. Settin' the Pace, PTS. 1 & 2 - Dexter Gordon - Dexter Gordon
2. Don't Worry 'Bout Me - Stan Getz - Stan Getz
3. Audubon - J.J. Johnson - J.J. Johnson
4. Oomba - Wilbur Harden - Wilbur Harden
5. Yusef's Mood - Yusef Lateef - Yusef Lateef
6. Boppin' the Blues - Dizzy Gillespie - Dizzy Gillespie
7. I Can't Get Started - Lester Young - Lester Young
8. Smoke Signal - Gigi Gryce - Gigi Gryce
9. Space Jazz Reverie - Sun Ra - Sun Ra
10. Coo Coo Calypso - New York Jazz Ensemble - New York Jazz Ensemble
11. Dance of the Infidels - George Wallington Quintet - George Wallington Quintet
12. Dancing on the Ceiling - the Barbara Carroll Trio - the Barbara Carroll Trio
13. This Can't Be Love - Charlie Byrd - Charlie Byrd
14. Everybody's Somebody's Fool - Jimmy Scott - Jimmy Scott
15. Great Day - the Adelaide Robbins Trio - the Adelaide Robbins Trio
16. Accident - Curtis Fuller - Curtis Fuller
17. Red Arrow - Red Rodney - Red Rodney
18. One for Tubby - Herbie Mann - Herbie Mann
Disc: 3
1. There's a Small Hotel - Charlie Parker - Charlie Parker
2. Moon Tree - Yusef Lateef - Yusef Lateef
3. Speculation - Gigi Gryce - Gigi Gryce
4. Yesterdays - J.J. Johnson - J.J. Johnson
5. Happy Happy - Herbie Mann - Herbie Mann
6. Moody Speaks - Dizzy Gillespie - Dizzy Gillespie
7. Blow Mr. Dexter - Dexter Gordon - Dexter Gordon
8. Up and Adam - Lester Young - Lester Young
9. Of Sounds and Something Else - Sun Ra - Sun Ra
10. Trolley Song - Barbara Long - Barbara Long
11. Home Is Where the Hearth Is - Perry Robinson - Perry Robinson
12. How Deep Is the Ocean - Teddy Charles/The Vibe Rant-Quintet - Teddy Charles/The Vibe Rant-Quintet
13. It Ain't Happened Yet - the Bill Hardman Quintet - the Bill Hardman Quintet
14. Dedication to Wanda- Bill Barron - Bill Barron
15. Barry's Bop - Fats Navarro - Fats Navarro
16. Arabia - Curtis Fuller & Benny Golson - Curtis Fuller & Benny Golson
17. September Song - Marian McPartland's Hickory House Trio - Marian McPartland's Hickory House Trio
18. B.J. - Wilbur Harden - Wilbur Harden