This stellar live recording, made one year before the massive crossover success of Breezin' features the guitar master burning through Paul Desmond's "Take Five", Freddie Hubbard's soulful "Sky Dive", and two hard-grooving Benson originals. And although he had sung on record previously, his unique vocal approach to Gershwin's "Summertime" raises the bar considerably, clearly setting the stage for "This Masquerade", "On Broadway", and other hits.

This indispensable recording documents a landmark concert by an absolute genius at one of the world's great venues - finally back in print on Mosaic Contemporary, the home of the Best of the Best in Contemporary Jazz.

#1-6: BUD FREEMAN AND HIS WINDY CITY FIVE: Bunny Berigan (tp), Bud Freeman (cl, ts), Claude Thornhill (p), Eddie Condon (g), Grachan Moncur (b), Cozy Cole (d). #7-13: MILDRED BAILEY AND HER ALLEY CATS: Bunny Berigan (tp), Johnny Hodges (as), Teddy Wilson (p), Grachan Moncur (b), Mildred Bailey (vcl). #14-18: BUNNY BERIGAN AND HIS BLUE BOYS: Bunny Berigan (tp), Edgar Sampson (cl, as), Eddie Miller (cl, ts), Cliff Jackson (b), Grachan Moncur (b), Ray Bauduc (d).

(A) Russell Jacquet, Joe Newman (tp), J.J. Johnson (tb), Illinois Jacquet (ts), Leo Parker (bari), Sir Charles Thompson (p), Al Lucas (b), Shadow Wilson (d). NYC December 18, 1947
(B) Russell Jacquet, Joe Newman (tp), J.J. Johnson (tb), Illinois Jacquet (ts), Leo Parker (bari), Sir Charles Thompson (p), John Collins (g), Al Lucas (b), Shadow Wilson (d). NYC December 19, 1947
(C) Russell Jacquet, Joe Newman (tp), Henry Coker (tb), Illinois Jacquet (ts), Maurice Simon (bari, ts), John Lewis (p), Al Lucas (b), Jo Jones (d). LA April 6, 1949
(D) Russell Jacquet, Joe Newman (tp), Henry Coker (tb), Ray Perry (as), Illinois Jacquet (ts), Maurice Simon (bari), Cedric Haywood (p), Al Lucas (b), Shadow Wilson (d), Joe Bailey (vcl). NYC December 14, 1949
(Q) Russell Jacquet (tp, vcl), Joe Newman (tp), Henry Coker (tb), Ray Perry (as), Illinois Jacquet (ts), Maurice Simon (bari), Cedric Haywood (p), Al Lucas (b), Shadow Wilson (d), Sid McKinney (vcl). NYC May 22, 1950

Composer/Arranger Claus Ogerman has contributed arrangements to classic recordings by a diverse list of artists, from Barbra Streisand to Stan Getz to Frank Sinatra to Bill Evans to George Benson. His modern classical approach often added an eerie Eastern-European vibe to these projects, and his orchestral works have been recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra and others.

Although tenor sax giant Michael Brecker had contributed to literally hundreds of important recordings by other artists and had recorded several albums as a member of the Brecker Brothers and Steps Ahead, he didn't make his first recording as a leader until 1986, at age 37. However, in 1982 he teamed up with Ogerman to make Cityscape, a landmark recording that stands as an absolute highlight of his career.

A virtual Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra with jazz rhythm section, Cityscape features some of the most astounding and sensitive playing of Brecker's storied career. Sadly, Michael succumbed to Leukemia in January of this year, and the music world lost one of the most influential musicians of his generation. It is a great pleasure for Mosaic Contemporary to make this masterpiece available once again.

Keyboardist Joe Zawinul is certainly best known for his work with the trailblazing jazz outfit Weather Report. Although the group's debut recording wouldn't come out until a year later, Zawinul represents the first time that founding members Zawinul, Wayne Shorter, and bassist Miroslav Vitous recorded together, and the combination would serve up truly groundbreaking results.

Although Zawinul first recorded his classic composition "In a Silent Way" with Miles Davis one year earlier, he reinterprets it here as a more complexly orchestrated piece, realizing his own vision of this brilliant work. This track, in addition to the song "Double Image", stand as a direct link between Miles's early electric work and Weather Report, thus setting the stage for nearly every eclectic contemporary jazz effort that followed.