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1949-1950 on CD

Gene Ammons spent the summer of 1949 as a member of Woody Herman's orchestra. Although the combination was exciting, few studio recordings were made during that stint (these will be available on Classics under Woody Herman's name). In Sept. 1949, Ammons returned to his hometown, formed a group of his own, and was able to record much more frequently. The entire output from March 5, 1950 is fantastic, and the session's highlights are "Blues Up & Down", which swings and bops like crazy, as well as a modern version of "You Can Depend On Me." One month later Ammons and Stitt returned with more. "Gravy" is better known as "Walkin', " a haunting tune later recorded by many other bands. It includes fine solos by Duke Jordan and Benny Green on trombone.