category: instrumental jazz / easy listening

Album review:
In 1952, guitar virtuoso Johnny Smith began recording for Teddy Reig's Roost Records and he hit big with his first session. Adding Stan Getz to his regular quartet, he created a spellbinding version of "Moonlight In Vermont" which became a best-selling record far beyond the jazz audience.

Reig paired Smith with Getz again and then with Zoot Sims and Paul Quinichette. While they never matched their first hit in sales, the created some great jazz. All 16 tunes by Smith with these tenor giants are gathered on this CD, remastered in 24 but from the original tapes.

CD Track Listing

  1. Where Or When (Rodgers / Hart) (2:26)
  2. Tabu (Stillman / Russell / Lecuona) (2:42)
  3. Moonlight In Vermont (Blackburn / Suessdorf) (3:15)
  4. Jaguar (Johnny Smith) (2:33)
  5. Stars Fell On Alabama (Parish / Perkins) (3:05)
  6. Tenderly (Lawrence / Plante / Gross) (3:26)
  7. (I Don't Stand A) Ghost Of A Chance (Crosby / Washington / Young) (3:10)
  8. Vilia (Franz Lehar) (2:42)
  9. Cavu (Johnny Smith) (2:15)
10. I'll Be Around (Alec Wilder) (2:47)
11. Yesterdays (Kern / Harbach) (2:52)
12. Cherokee (Ray Noble) (2:49)
13. Sometimes I'm Happy (Youmans / Caesar) (2:20)
14. Nice Work If You Can Get It (George & Ira Gershwin) (2:26)
15. Jaguar (alternate version) (Johnny Smith) (2:30)
16. My Funny Valentine (Rodgers / Hart) (2:40)

Total timing: 44:05

Label/No: EMI / Roulette 93001

Release date: (c)1953, 2004 reissue