The U.K.'s label continues its tribute to with this second volume devoted specifically to recordings made in 1946 and 1947. Opening with a pair of definitively rare transcription discs from an unspecified date in 1946, this exciting compilation plows through the standard session discography from August 11 to December 17, 1947, salvaging a long-lost alternate rendition of and an adaptation of a movement from 's . What makes this edition perhaps more adventuresome than is the emphasis upon early modern jazz. This means that even as the sweet element was still active (especially in the form of pop tunes interpreted by vocalist ), was hiring skilled young improvisers like , , and while granting arranger freedom and license to incorporate bop themes and progressive tropes into the band's operative infrastructure. Suddenly, 's book was sprouting contemporary outgrowths like and as well as and/or compositions like The omission of ten quartet recordings dating from this part of the chronology suggests that the producers saved the more intimate small-group episodes for a different volume in the series. ~ arwulf arwulf