Billy May was one of Hollywood's most ebullient and creative arrangers, bar none. In 1958 he received a nice chunk of bread to create an album full of arrangements featuring Hollywood's top brass players - guys that are true legends among brass players (listed below). And did I mention that Billy started life as a tuba player?

This is definitely a Hollywood style production glossy with the 1950's sound that evokes memories of classic films of that era. It was, of course, recorded in Hollywood in 1958.

Featured in the tuba section are studio tubists Red Callender (Red Callender Speaks Low, available elsewhere on this site) and a guy I'm trying to learn more about, Clarance Karella. They both do a great job and the sound they get together is SOLID and DARK!

Look who's playing on this album - a veritable "Who's Who" of Hollywood Players:

Tunes include Brassmen's Holiday, Autumn Leaves, Love is the Thing, Ping Pong, Moonlight Becomes You, Pawn Ticket, Solving the Riddle, Invitation, The Continental, Return of the Zombie, On a Little Street in Singapore and Joom Jooms.

(Remember, this album is EQ'd and prepared from a vinyl record, with all the warmth and presence of that medium, including occasional surface noise. But WELL WORTH OWNING AND HEARING!)