The Herb Geller Quartet - The Herb Geller Quartet (1993/2019)

This quartet outing with pianist Tom Ranier, bassist John Leitham, and drummer Louis Bellson is one of altoist Herb Geller's finest recordings. Geller, whose long period in Europe has resulted in him being somewhat forgotten in the U.S., has actually improved through the years and was even stronger in the mid-'90s than he had been in the mid-'50s. For this date he contributes five originals (including a tribute to Lenny Bruce, "Stand-Up Comic," during which Geller sings) and performs six mostly lesser-known standards, highlighted by "The Peacocks," which has its composer, Jimmy Rowles, sitting in on piano. This CD is easily recommended to bop collectors, for it finds Herb Geller at the peak of his powers.