compiles some of the earliest recordings made by the legendary jazz trumpeter through to his time as a bebop innovator in the mid-'40s. The album includes cuts recorded with several big bands during the 1930s, including such acts as , , and . Elsewhere, we get such bop-era landmarks as 's recordings with . This is a solid overview of 's development from swing-era acolyte of to modern jazz giant. ~ Matt Collar