Jimmy Preston - Jimmy Preston (1949-1950)

Altoist Jimmy Preston is best known for his early recording of "Rock the Joint," which signaled the way toward rock & roll. That hit is not on this CD, but this disc has 14 other worthy performances (counting four alternate takes), all recorded for the Gotham label. While Preston takes some heated alto solos and occasional vocals, the tenor player is often the solo star, honking away in exciting fashion. Surprisingly, that saxophonist is the young Benny Golson, sounding quite at home in this set of party music. While the set may not be essential, it is certainly fun.