Gene Ammons - The Classic Early Albums 1955-1960 (2023)

This 4CD Set includes eight of Gene Ammons' most esteemed and celebrated albums, originally released between 1955 and 1960. All coming from the great man's 1950s output when he worked with many of the finest jazz musicians around, the collection illustrates perfectly how he helped develop the sound of the tenor saxophone to higher levels of expressiveness. Ammons, together with Dexter Gordon and Sonny Stitt, helped integrate their developments with the emerging vernacular of the bebop movement, and the chromaticism and rhythmic variety of Charlie Parker is evident in his playing. This compilation forms an ideal starting place for beginners to this maverick musician's work and talents, but works equally well for those already well versed, as a perfect reminder of just how extraordinary an artist Gene Ammons was.