Music to Make the Impossible Possible

Despite its grandiose title, this jazz sampler provides a collection of excellent performances by major jazz instrumentalists and vocalists, all of them taken in a low-key, easygoing manner. After the tunes play, jazz pianist and interviewer Marian McPartland engages in a mutual admiration discussion with Bill Strickland, after which Strickland has a narrative in which he reveals that the album consists of his choices of his favorite jazz performances and makes claims for the music almost as over the top as the record title. Thankfully, one need not prescribe to his hubris to enjoy these tracks, even if the album could have been called Music to Make the Comfortable Leisurely instead.