Roy Eldridge - Little Jazz: The Best Of The Verve Years (1994)

These 19 songs cut throughout the 1950s offer a smorgasbord of Roy Eldridge's expertise. There's an impressive array of musical talents and settings here, forming something of a sampler of Eldridge's time on the Verve label.
"Ja-Da" finds him combining with a spirited group of Basie alumni, while "Let Me Off Uptown" reunites the trumpeter with Anita O'Day and Gene Krupa in a reprise of their trend-setting 1941 hit which is as aurally fulfilling as the original. "I Remember Harlem" is another standout; here, the moody, atmospheric melody is like few other Eldridge recordings. Against a beautiful and eerie arrangement featuring a bevy of strings and flute, Eldridge's playing is gorgeous and seductive, illuminating the nocturnal mood of the song like a street light on a darkened avenue.
Jeff Lowenthal
If you've read my other reviews, you know I'm a big fan of Roy Eldridge. Add to that the fact that these are among Roy's best from his period with Norman Granz's Verve and Clef labels, and it gets a 5 star rating from me.
With artists like Oscar Peterson and Johnny Hodges and Coleman Hawkins in attendance, each track has its virtues, from the intense (Dale's Wail) to the intimate and relaxed (Roy's tune, I Remember Harlem).
Add notes by the knowledgeable Dan Morgenstern, and you have an excellent package. Too bad it's out of print. But there are a number of good condition used versions (some actually new), and you should snap one up. You can't go wrong!