This ultra-rare 1960 recording of the Torchy Jones Brass Quintet (actually, the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra Brass Quintet) just fell into our hands and YOU NEED TO HEAR IT!

L-O-N-G before The Canadian Brass launched their attempts at "jazzy" arrangements for brass quintet, the Torchy Jones Brass Quintet was SMOKIN'!

According to Art Hovey, the group went to very significant expense to commission Frank Huster's arrangements of twelve classic tunes for brass quintet and rhythm section. After much rehearsal a recording date was set with Columbia and "Catch the Brass Ring" was soon released...

It seems that Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra Director Eugene Ormandy FLEW INTO A RAGE when he heard this recording and DEMANDED that all existing copies be pulled from the shelves and, in fact, that the album be taken entirely out of circulation! HIS MUSICIANS COULD NEVER, EVER be heard in this context! (Gone are the days when conductors could wield such tyrannical power - phew!)

Columbia immediately complied with Ormandy's wishes and the album was consigned to the dust bin. Except for the initial release sales, the album altogether disappeared...