Herbie Harper Sextet [LP]

After touring with various orchestras, Harper settled down to a prolonged career in the recording studios and playing occasional jazz gigs. Trombonist Herbie Harper's fifth and final session as a leader in the 1950s is an excellent outing that also features the little-known tenor man Jay Core, guitarist Howard Roberts, pianist Marty Paich, bassist Red Mitchell and either Frank Capp or Mel Lewis on drums. Core and Capp contributed an original apiece and the sextet also plays five superior standards along with a surprising rendition of "Little Orphan Annie." This set has plenty of high-quality West Coast jazz.