by Scott Yanow
This rare 10" LP has pianist Russ Freeman's first two sessions as a leader, music that has since been reissued on a CD along with music by Richard Twardzik. Teamed with bassist Joe Mon and drummer Shelly Manne, Freeman (who had a laid-back but sometimes hard swinging bop style) is heard performing four originals and four standards ("You Stepped out of a Dream" "At Last," "Yesterday's Gardenias," and "Don't Worry About Me"). At the time, Freeman was a member of Shorty Rogers' group (where he played nightly alongside Manne and Mon), a short time before he gained some recognition for his playing with Chet Baker's quartet. Excellent music.