His core sound is rooted in the
original jazz classics, but he can also be found playing in soul, rock and gospel settings.
Produced by electronic publisher Alexander Street, the Jazz Music Library contains more than 18,000 audio tracks from more than 3,800 artists and dozens of record labels, including Audiophile, Concord Jazz, Contemporary Records, Fantasy, Jazzology, Milestone, Nessa Records,
Original Jazz Classics, Pablo, Prestige, and Riverside.
Of Discs, Dodos, and Nurserymen: Fantasy Records says that it holds "The World's Mightiest Jazz Catalog" and has been releasing a series of
Original Jazz Classics samplers to support the claim.
SONNY ROLLINS No Problem (Milestone;
Original Jazz Classics): The early 80s are not remembered as a golden time in the long career of tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins.
This recording, originally released on Mingus 's own Debut label in 1953, has been available in various formats since its LP reissue as part of the
Original Jazz Classics series in the early 1980s.
NAT ADDERLEY A Little New York Midtown Music; J J JOHNSON Pinnacles (both
Original Jazz Classics): The
Original Jazz Classics continues to fill in the gaps with valuable reissues, these two from 78 and 79 respectively.
Originally recorded and released in 1961, then reissued in 1987 as part of Fantasy's
Original Jazz Classics series, this recording was something of a summit meeting among three of the most significant jazz entities of the time: Adderley himself, already a hugely influential alto saxophonist in the hard bop style; pianist Bill Evans, whose lyrical, impressionistic playing was changing the way people thought about jazz piano; and the bass and drums duo of Percy Heath and Connie Kay, whose work with the Modern Jazz Quartet was bringing jazz to wider audiences with its dignified, classically-influenced approach.