Cool Cool Blue

This Pablo set (reissued on CD) was a change of pace from drummer Louie Bellson's many big-band dates of the period. He performs "Wanderlust" in a trio with pianist Frank Strazzeri and bassist George Duvivier (who wrote the song); features tenor saxophonist Ted Nash (one of his main discoveries) on four quartet tunes; and has Matt Catingub make the group a quintet on three numbers, taking one song apiece on alto, tenor and soprano. Several of the pieces -- either group originals or obscurities -- are blues-based; a few are more complex, and all of them swing in a spirited fashion, as one would expect from a Louie Bellson date. Good modern mainstream music.