Miles Davis's 50's era cover of "If I Were a Bell" begins with the thorny bandleader barking at his engineer, the great Rudy Van Gelder, "I'll play it and tell you what it is later". After a few finger snaps, Red Garland's bell tones kickoff the classic show tune with textbook solos from Coltrane, Miles, and Garland. This may serve as a nice summation of the whole two disc CD. Every track truly speaks for itself. For die-hard enthusiasts, this 60th anniversary collection digs deep into a catalog that already includes vast amounts of wonderful music. Selections like Dolphy's "Les" and Dorham's "Lotus Blossum" showcase the sophistication of the release's curators. For newcomers, I can't imagine a better, more informed, introduction to jazz music.

Thumbs wildly up.

DISC ONE
1. Subconscious-Lee 2:48
2. I'm In The Mood For Love 4:24
3. I Want To Be Happy 7:39
4. Blue Monk 6:17
5. Airegin 4:57
6. Django 7:03
7. Tenor Madness 12:15
8. St. Thomas 6:45
9. If I Were A Bell 8:15
10. My Funny Valentine 6:04
11. Hey Now 3:41
12. I Love You 5:28
13. Why Was I Born? 3:15

DISC TWO
1. Very Saxy 8:16
2. Lotus Blossom (aka: Asiatic Raes) 4:36
3. Hittin' The Jug 8:27
4. March On, March On 4:45
5. Les 5:45
6. Plum Blossom 4:59
7. Three For Dizzy 5:14
8. Soul Shoutin' 5:42
9. Misty 6:00
10. Waltz For Geri 6:21
11. Fried Bananas 6:05
12. More Today Than Yesterday 3:46