The MPS label scored a coup when they were able to set up a recording date with the Basie orchestra. It took place on October 20th, 1969 at Universal Studios in Chicago. As agreed upon, the band brought along standards from the Basie book, and the Count fulfilled MPS head Hans Georg Brunner-Schwers wish that Basie play longer piano passages than usual; normally Basie limited himself to a short riff here and there.

The original "four tenors" - tenor saxophonists, that is. Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis invited three titan tenor sax players to join him and his quartet in the studio for Very Saxy for what amounted to a jam session. The Penguin Guide to Jazz included "Very Saxy" on its list of suggestions for a core collection of essential jazz albums.

Tenorman Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and organist Shirley Scott co-led a popular combo during 1956-60, recording many albums and helping to popularize the idiom. This album, recorded in 1958 for the Prestige label, finds the quartet (with bassist George Duvivier and drummer Arthur Edgehill) interpreting eight swing standards, alternating ballads with romps. It's a fine all-around showcase for the accessible group.

"Jaws in Orbit" is an album by saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis with organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1959 for the Prestige label. The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow states, "The group that Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis led with organist Shirley Scott during the latter half of the 1950s was quite accessible and did a great deal to popularize the organ band in jazz".

Goin' to the Meeting is an album by saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis recorded in 1962 for the Prestige label.

"Sinatra at the Sands" is a live album by Frank Sinatra accompanied by Count Basie and his orchestra, and conducted and arranged by Quincy Jones, recorded live in the Copa Room of the former Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in 1966. It was Sinatra's first live album to be commercially released, and contains many definitive readings of the songs that are most readily associated with Sinatra.

"Bacalao" is another album by saxophonist Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis with organist Shirley Scott recorded in 1959 for the Prestige label. The Allmusic review states, "Organ combo soul-jazz was still new and fresh in 1959, and Scott was helping Davis find new ways to interpret very familiar melodies. Although not quite essential, Bacalao is a rewarding example of Davis' ability to thrive in an organ/tenor setting".

Organised jam sessions at New York's legendary Birdland Club were broadcast twice weekly during the late '40's and early '50's and a baker's dozen of tracks featuring the magnificent Miles Davis have been selected for this collection. The various pick-up line-ups included all the great jazz musicians of the era, and tenor sax genius Stan Getz can be heard here on several tracks beautifully complimenting Miles' wonderful trumpet excursions. This album has been early issued on CD under the titles "Miles Davis: The Birdland Sessions" (1994), "Miles Davis: Out Of The Blue" (1997), "Miles Davis featuring Stan Getz : Birdland Days" (1991), "Miles Davis, Stan Getz: Move" (2003).

Live at the Sands (Before Frank) is a live album by the pianist and bandleader Count Basie with performances recorded in Las Vegas in 1966 at the same concerts that produced Frank Sinatra's 1966 album "Sinatra at the Sands". The album is of the warm-up sets by Basie's band before Sinatra's performances. It was originally released on the Reprise label in 1998.