Hal McKusick

Hal McKusick is one of the most frequently overlooked reed players of the 50's – and until this great reissue came out a few years ago, his work was mostly only known to collectors of rare stuff who had the money to check him out.

Fortunately, this lower-priced reissue brings together some of McKusick's best sides for Decca (which were also probably his best sides ever), and the material is a haunting mix of bebop with a tighter approach to arrangements – sort of in the style of some of Benny Golson's work from the same time.

Titles include "Ponsu", "For Art's Sake", "Criss Cross", "Down & Dirty", and "Old Devil Moon".