From the vaults of Atlantic Records. Tracks 1-7 feature Barbara Carroll on piano, backed by Joe Shulman on bass and Herb Wasserman on drums. Tracks 8-14 feature Mary Lou Williams on piano, with Carl Pruitt on bass and Bill Clark on drums.

Contains previously unreleased bonus tracks.

TRACKS 1-8

Personnel: Mary Lou Williams (piano); Joe Schulman (bass); Herb Wasserman (drums).

Recorded in New York, New York on November 9, 1951.

TRACKS 9-18

Personnel: Mary Lou Williams (piano); Carl Pruitt (bass); Bill Clark (drums).

Recorded in New York, New York in March 7, 1951.

Reissue producers: Donald Elfman, Naomi

Includes liner notes by Leonard Feather.

Digitally remastered by Gene Paul (DB Plus, New York, New York).

Personnel: Mary Lou Williams (piano); Barbara Carroll (piano); Herb Wasserman, Bill Clark (drums).

Liner Note Author: Leonard Feather.

Recording information: 1951.

This is a reissue of an early LP that devoted a side apiece to these two talented pianists in a trio setting. Most of Barbara Carroll's recordings from this era are long out of print, and she was recorded rather sporadically until a flurry of activity in the early '90s, so it's a treat to hear her swinging renditions of gems like "Taking a Chance on Love" and "The Lady's in Love With You," with the added bonus of a previously unissued track, "They Can't Take That Away From Me." Mary Lou Williams' set is more adventurous, featuring an adaptation of Leoncavallo's "Pagliacci," and classic show tunes like "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top" and "'S Wonderful." But it's her potent originals that steal the show -- the bluesy "In the Purple Grotto" and "Opus Z," a composition co-written with the unjustly neglected Herbie Nichols. ~ Ken Dryden

Genre:

• Jazz

Labels:

• Collectables Records

Music Categories:

• Pop Vocal: Cabaret

Product Groupings:

• Clearance CDs
• Collectables Records - Audio CDs