In 1958, had yet to take the modal post-bop plunge. He was still a hard bopper, although his "sheets of sound" solos were certainly among the most interesting, creative, and distinctive that bop had to offer in the late '50s. contains some highlights of two bop-oriented dates from 1958: one is a July 11 session with trumpeter/fluegelhornist , pianist , bassist , and drummer ; the other is a December 26 session with , , trumpeter . At both sessions, 's playing is quite engaging. He is a lyrical, expressive ballad player on and but he swings fast and aggressively on (the only track on this 39-minute program that isn't a ballad). At both sessions, is well served by 's piano and ' bass. When was playing alongside those jazzmen in ' 1955-1957 quintet, he enjoyed a strong rapport with both of them -- and that rapport wasn't any weaker in 1958. It is no coincidence that 's A&R department united with so often; knew how compatible all of them were. Although not quite essential, paints a consistently attractive picture of 's 1958 output. ~ Alex Henderson