The West Coast Jazz Box: An Anthology of California Jazz
Although California jazz is often considered synonymous with the "cool" sounds of musicians like Chet Baker and Gerry Mulligan, the West Coast milieu was actually as diverse as the East Coast jazz scene. This impressive four-disc collection chronologically documents the progression and development of the many genres existing within the context of California jazz. While cerebral players like Dave Brubeck, Jimmy Guiffre, and Art Pepper are featured here, this anthology also includes works by more passionate figures, including Charles Mingus and Dexter Gordon. Highlighting cuts by visitors like Miles Davis alongside performances of local heroes like Shelly Manne and Howard Rumsey, this compilation is as enjoyable as it is instructive. From cool to swing to bop to bossa nova and beyond, California had it all.--Mitch Myers