Joe Newman - Billy Byers Sextet Feat. Gene Quill - Byers' Guide (Fresh Sound) CD = New Sounds in Swing (Jazztone J-1217) LP 1956

CD cover

Hi folks, I'm here again!!

Here a CD by Fresh Sound folks that re-issue an old vinyl tittled New Sounds in Swing by Jazztone label . Naturally this CD is remastered from a vinyl copy (some cliks are audible) with quite good sound, but not state of art job!.

New Sounds in Swing (JAZZTONE J-1217) 1956 -LP

LP cover

Joe Newman (tp), Billy Byers (tb), Gene Quill (as, cl), Lou Stein (p), Milt Hinton (b), Osie Johnson (d)

1. Who's Cool? (B.Byers)
2. Byers' Guide (B.Byers)
3. Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe
(Arlen-Harburg)
4. Fingernails On The Windowpane (B.Byers)
5. April's Delight (Judy Spencer)
6. Gin And Catatonic (B.Byers)
7. Dialogue In F (Judy Spencer)
8. Tribute To The West (B.Byers)
9. I Found A Million Dollar Baby
(Warren-Rose-Dixon)
10. Which One Is Sali (B.Byers)

Recorded in New York City, 1956

Review by Ken Dryden
Trumpeter Joe Newman and trombonist Billy Byers co-lead this 1956 sextet date, which also features Gene Quill, Lou Stein, Milt Hinton, and Osie Johnson. Byers wrote most of the music for the date and the solos remain very fresh. The performances are comparable to other musicians' better-known dates that have had the benefit of better promotion by their record labels and wider exposure through reissues. Byers' songs are not only upbeat but his sense of humor is obvious in pun-filled titles like "Byers' Guide" and "Gin and Catatonic"; don't worry, "Fingernails on the Windowpane" is not an example of early avant-garde jazz! If you are fortunate enough to come across this release in a used record store or website, buy it immediately or you may never see it again in your lifetime, as it is hardly a high-priority candidate for reissue.