The third CD volume of altoist
Tab Smith's
United recordings features 21 selections, 14 of which had never been released before. The music ranges from
Johnny Hodges
-type small-group stomping swing and R&B-ish jump sides to sentimental ballads and a few vocal numbers (featuring unidentified singers). Among the personnel are trumpeter
Irving Woods
, pianist
Teddy Brannon
and drummer
Walter Johnson
. Accessible and fairly creative jazz, conservative for the early '50s but still quite enjoyable. ~ Scott Yanow