The Thin Man Meets Mad Lad

For the third of four LPs put out by the English Misterioso label, there are performances that (due to the many alternate takes) will be of greater interest to the bop completist than to the general collector. There are two versions apiece of "Twisted" and "Southside" from a quartet date led by tenor-saxophonist Wardell Gray; 15 other performances from the same session (just four songs in all) are included on Misterioso 1981 and 1982. In addition Gray leads a different quartet in 1950 for four songs (plus six alternate takes) and there are five titles from a particularly rare set led by baritonist Leo Parker; five other versions can be heard on Misterioso 1984. The music is generally excellent but the repetition of the same titles may drive some listeners batty.