Budd Johnson - Ya! Ya! (1999)

Mighty tenor from the great Budd Johnson – an album titled with a similar name to one of his Chess Records sessions – but done in a very different vibe! This set has an easygoing swing to it – that timeless approach that made the Black & Blue label material feel classic, even at the time of its release – and which has only made the label's productions sound better and better over the years! Budd's got lots of room to stretch out and blow in his solos – as does Charlie Shavers on trumpet, and Andre Persiany on piano – working here in a quintet with Roland Lobliegois on bass and Oliver Jackson on drums. The set's worth it alone for the ten minute title track "Ya Ya" – and other titles include "Body & Soul", "I'll Be Seeing You", "The Best Things In Life Are Free", and "In A Mellowtone". CD features unissued bonus tracks "I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me" and "B&B Blues"