Jazz Erotica

Very smart clean vinyl housed in a nice crisp cover.

Richie Kamuca recorded less than a dozen dates as a leader prior to his death (one day shy of his 47th birthday) in 1977, and this long out of print LP release by HiFi in 1959 may be the hardest one to find. The tenor saxophonist leads a strong octet, with trombonist Frank Rosolino, trumpeters Conte Candoli and Ed Leddy, pianist Vince Guaraldi, bassist Monte Budwig, drummer Stan Levey, and baritone saxophonist Bill Holman, who wrote the arrangements, too. The charts are good examples of cool jazz and feature rich ensembles behind the soloists, especially on standards like "Angel Eyes" and "Indiana." "Blue Jazz" (oddly credited to the leader on the label but Holman in the liner notes) and a brisk "Stella By Starlight" feature Kamuca in a stripped-down setting with the rhythm section. Expect to pay a premium price for this LP.