Sadly, this is the sixth and last volume in the chronology. It assembles all of his studio recordings made between March 25, 1952 and December 10, 1954, only three months before his death at the age of 35. On the session that opens the compilation, producer placed in front of a brassy big band, using punchy arrangements by . The quartet session of December 30, 1952 resulted in four beautiful tracks that are greatly enhanced by the rhythm section of , and . 's highly evolved musicality, coupled with the fact that he was beginning to come up with titles like might invite speculation as to where he would have been at had he lived through the late '50s and into the '60s. purists have been bitching about the -arranged "chamber session of May 22, 1953 ever since the records first came out on 's label. But sounded marvelous in any company. He transformed everything he came into contact with, even these stylized vocals by , a carefully collared mini-choir that included 's future partner in crime . Having in the band didn't hurt, either. was also on hand for a superb quartet date on August 4, 1953 with . (For a good time, chase 's rendition of with all five takes of the same piece recorded in 1961 by . Finish with the version presented live at Yoshi's in 1994 by the , rinse, and repeat.) 's final two studio recording sessions took place in the early spring and winter of 1954 with quintets featuring . at the piano, and first then behind the drums. The material was entirely derived from the songbook; 's studio swan song, has an ominous quality that haunts the listener long after the five-minute record has ended. ~ arwulf arwulf