by Scott Yanow
15 years after their last joint recordings, the Poll Winners (a trio with guitarist Barney Kessel, bassist Ray Brown and drummer Shelly Manne) had a reunion for this excellent session which has been reissued on CD. All three players had grown quite a bit musically since the 1950s and Kessel in particular is heard in excellent form on the three standards and three swinging originals. Overall this is the best all-around recording by The Poll Winners and is easily recommended to bop fans.