by Scott Yanow
Five of Los Angeles' best musicians of 1960, all veterans of the cool jazz scene, are featured on this CD reissue. While the solos are excellent, trumpeter Conte Candoli's six originals (two co-written with pianist Vince Guaraldi) are not particularly memorable. Their chord structures are comfortable for the musicians but none of the melodies will be remembered after the CD ends. Another minus is the brief playing time (under 29 minutes) which makes one wish that the music (originally on a long out-of-print Crown Lp) had been combined with another complementary set. What is here is fine but overall Little Band, Big Jazz, despite the fine playing of Candoli, Guaraldi, tenor-saxophonist Buddy Collette, bassist Leroy Vinnegar and drummer Stan levey, falls short of being essential.